Reading Through the Harvard Classics 50 Volume Series

Rob Pirie | Rediscovering Education

Jun 29, 2024

Self-Discovery - My Journey Through the Harvard Classics Series (Rob Pirie)

Welcome to my first post everyone!

Please join me as we embark on reading through the Harvard Classics Series by Dr. Charles Elliot. This series dates back to around 1910 and is a collection of literature that I believe needs to be revived and rediscovered. I look forward to reading and discussing all 50 volumes with you as we learn about the great ideas of those who came before us.

Why the Harvard Classics?

I went to a public school here in Louisiana, and our state is not known for its stellar education system. Sadly, we rank almost last in almost everything, including education and health. And the quality of my public education was very lacking, not just because of the public school system, but also due to the atmosphere of learning, or the lack thereof. From watching movies in class, such as “Finding Nemo,” to taking practice exams for these end-of-the-year CAT tests, it bothers me to look back and realize that most of my golden years of education were wasted. I was not inspired, driven, or motivated to read anything beyond what was entertaining or necessary.

I look upon those years, and I long to go back and correct that period. In all honesty, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves. I should not be relying on government institutions to handle the entire process.

Which is why I began searching for a curriculum to help me educate myself on my own time. This led me to discover the Harvard Classics. I have been a student of history for some time, and as I delved into the biographies of Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin, a common theme began to stand out to me. All of them were classically educated and spoke multiple languages, including Latin, French, and some could even translate to Greek. They all had studied Plutarch and were well-versed in Cicero’s orations. They quoted Locke and Voltaire. They formed a declaration and eventually a constitution based on the knowledge of these classical works. Why had I not been introduced to these books?

It’s hard to have respect for something when you are never taught it.

Why were the most influential and respectable people during that time all reading these classical works while I was watching Barney and coloring Mickey Mouse pages? This led me to want to seek change.

What are the Harvard Classics?

The Harvard Classics is a 50-volume series of classic works of world literature, important speeches, and historical documents compiled and edited by Harvard University President Charles W. Eliot in 1909 and 1910. - Wiki

This set predates World War I and World War II, and is set in a time before many of the progressive movement's changes occurred. A great quote from Elliot explains his reasoning for compiling this series.

“Within the limits of fifty volumes, containing about twenty-three thousand pages, my task was to provide the means of obtaining such knowledge of ancient and modern literature as seemed essential to the twentieth-century idea of a cultivated man. The best acquisition of a cultivated man is a liberal frame of mind or way of thinking; but there must be added to that possession acquaintance with the prodigious store of recorded discoveries, experiences, and reflections which humanity in its intermittent and irregular progress from barbarism to civilization has acquired and laid up.” - Elliot

That brings me to the next point I want to discuss.

What do I hope we get from the Harvard Classics set?

I hope we can gain a deeper understanding of the ideas and thoughts of those who came before us, so that we can use those insights to understand ourselves better. I want to broaden my skills in reading and comprehension. I want to delve deeply into my mind and utilize this knowledge to clarify things that I am unclear about, both spiritually and mentally. I have spent a considerable amount of time on devices over the past decade, and I believe my attention span and ability to think deeply have been significantly impacted. Sadly, I have noticed the attention span issue in just about everyone I speak to. These books will be a way for me to exercise my deep thought and remain attentive to a single topic for a prolonged period. In short, I want to use these books as a way to rewire my brain back to its original state. I hope to gain a better understanding of where we, as a culture, came from and where we are headed. That is why I am embarking on this journey with the Harvard Classics, and I hope, if you are reading this, that you will also enjoy them.

What to Expect?

I plan to upload a video and create a post on each book in the Harvard Classics set. If the reading material is very brief, I may combine it into a single video, depending on the amount of content. My goal is not to create these videos or posts as a comprehensive examination of the book's details. You will need to read the books for that. I want this series to be a platform for sharing ideas on the material and exploring the lessons in the text. Learn from and debate the ideas. I would like to share my thoughts on quotes and delve into the in-depth meaning of specific key takeaways.

But most importantly, I want to connect how these works apply to our current way of life. In the words of our dear General Marquis De Lafayette, “I am not here to teach but to learn.” The entire purpose is to learn and understand these books in a more profound sense. I am not a scholar or a philosopher, and I do not claim to be. This series will allow me to delve deeper into the reading and extract the lessons from these books.

Conclusion:

I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do, and I would love to hear from you in the comments. Please feel free to challenge, push back, add commentary, and provide advice as needed. I plan to read and respond to as many of your comments as possible, so I look forward to engaging with you. With that being said, thank you for reading my post. I look forward to seeing you at the next one, where we will be discussing Mr. Franklin. Please subscribe if you like this type of content. These posts are sponsored by my coffee roasting company, which can be found linked below if you're interested. This helps support this project and will enable me to continue and improve upon it. We will be discussing Franklin’s Autobiography next.

So, I will see you there! Stay blessed!