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

Self Discovery - My Journey Through the Harvard Classics Series
Welcome Everyone!
When did our education system begin to fail us? I think about that often...
Please join me in embarking on 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. It is rooted in the classical education tradition witch has alwasy been more of a self discovery way of learning. I look forward to reading and discussing the five foot shelf of books with you as we learn about the great ideas of those who came before us. Feel free to reach out with any questions as I would love to hear from you!
-Rob Pirie
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[@yisyvonne]

I was homeschooled/unschooled and my entire curriculum was just this set and then discussing via the Socratic method with my father. So thankful to have had that experience (he passed last year).

[@warriordx5520]

Congratulations! What did he pass exactly?

[@Gabriel-pk8lw]

​@@warriordx5520 he died.

[@mr.unbelievable3502]

​@@warriordx5520☠️☠️

[@The_Cause]

I am very curious about this. What age did you start going through them with him and do you feel it was beneficial and worth it? I eventually would like to do the same with my kids. Truly sorry to hear your father passed. Losing my old man was one of the toughest days. Thanks so much for watching and have a blessed New Years!

[@mariolangva]

​@warriordx5520 I'm not sure if you're sarcastic or not, but in case you aren't, this means his/her father died. Saying "he passed" is a shortened form of saying "he passed away" which of course also means dying.

[@danshaw9479]

As a soon to be retired philosophy professor who has come to despair of the traditional classroom's ability to teach real wisdom I find this video and Rob's approach refreshing, not only for his desire to learn despite his weak education but also for his passion. Kudos, Rob.

[@The_Cause]

I truly appreciate the kind words professor! I never dreamed when I started this channel that "professors" would be tuning in. KZbin is really an amazing world. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your classes and have a joyful retirement when that time comes. Stay blessed my friend!

[@douglasrenteria3539]

I'm beginning the same journey, Been collecting them when I can. I wish we could ask the professor some questions.

[@bonniebrown1566]

I too often lament the wasted years of my youth. After college I decided I was going to educate myself. I started the journey for my children because I wanted more for them. After 20 years of homeschooling, reading the classics together, learning Latin, studying Greek, I can say with great confidence that “climbing parnassus” is worth every bit of effort you put into it, and the richness it will bring into your life is immeasurable.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I am in the beginning stages of educating my young ones and comments like this are so refreshing. I looked up the book Climbing Parnassus and I am going to have to buy a copy and check it out. Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new year!

[@bonniebrown1566]

@@The_Cause Please do a video on Climbing Parnassus after you read it! I can not recommend it enough! And God bless you in your journey educating your own little ones. Happy New Year!

[@ChthonicEsotericism]

I'm currently a freshman in college and am doing something similar. Even though I took AP classes throughout high school, it felt like I learned nothing, or at least, I felt like I learned nothing that really caught my interest. In general, you leave high school knowing virtually nothing about the world, how to view it, what to make of it, how it works, etc. It's a bit cliché, but "out of the pan and into the fire" is essentially what school to life feels like. However, I suppose the leap is to be expected in a world that is this complex and, at times, convoluted. I've been reading through a decent amount of history, novels in Spanish, and plan to start reading philosophy and religious-related subjects because neither of those topics were even touched upon, save certain situations like John Locke. Public schooling in the US fucking *blows*. No one wants to be there and all of the material seems (at the time) completely arbitrary and useless. It nearly killed any interest I had in reading and learning in general, and I am most likely one of the lucky ones to have recuperated it. Coupled with my attention span being reduced to a fine powder, I really have an uphill battle to fight in the coming months or even years in an attempt to counterbalance the years of soul-sucking that public school had induced upon me. It's nice to see your comment and to know that I can have an education much further beyond the limited scope that we are offered in public education. I have been also considering learning Latin as well, partly because it seems cool and partly because much of what was written in Latin is so influential in contemporary thought and literature.

[@monsieurLDN]

Do you have any specific example of 'the richness'?

[@The_Cause]

@bonniebrown1566 Hey! Just letting you know! I bought and can’t wait to start it. Just received it yesterday. Got a few in the queue ahead of it but will definitely do a video on it soon.

[@kayleeson509]

When libraries were founded, people were hoping that everyone, regardless of class, could get this kind of education. When the internet was first founded there was a similar notion of "civic technology", of using the internet to help everyone get access to this type of education. Feel free to skim! Sometimes you need to skim things and come back to them later. Repetition is key to rewiring your brain. You have a great attitude about "I'm going to go give myself the opportunities I didn't have"! That attitude is something that cannot be taught. Great job.

[@The_Cause]

Truly appreciate the kind words and agree. I think this entire series is available for $1.99 on Kindle. What use to be so expensive to obtain can be downloaded in a few seconds. But I agree, what have we done with all this amazing tech? Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed!

[@johnsikes320]

I really admire your effort and words. My grandmother, who taught English waaay back in the day (like the 1940s) swore by those books. When she died, I inherited her set and for thirty years I’ve lugged those books around with me, but never read any of them. I was an aerospace engineer for forty years and never thought there was much worth in reading works of fiction. But then, I retired and began reading them. My biggest regret is, I didn’t read them back when I was your age, because I missed out on all that wisdom that my Grandmother was trying to tell me about. Good luck in your quest and Thank You! Liked and Subscribed!

[@The_Cause]

Wow! I truly appreciate you sharing that with me. It is motivating to hear others getting value from them. I have been truly enjoying making this series and I thought just like you for a long time. I really haven’t read fiction since I graduated high school. But it is nice to slow down and pick some nice books up and put down these cell phones. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@PlanoBLifeTV]

I feel like that too

[@Srfs777]

These books of wisdom you speak of, they are the ones you portrayed in this video?

[@467076]

These books are not all works of fiction. Marcus Aurelius Meditations is probably one of the greatest books of Stoicism and wisdom.

[@obscuremusictabs5927]

Reading tip: keep a mechanical pencil at hand and when you find a passage you like put a small mark in the margin and every 50 pages you read go back and catalogue the dots in the margin in a notebook or better yet a searchable computer file. I find it’s the best way to hang on to parts you would otherwise forget while also not having to constantly stop and start during the reading process.

[@chrisaumaugher3732]

In college, At first, this was a no-no because of money, but as soon as I could afford to keep them, I started writing in the margins. I still use those old books and love my notes. I still write in the margin, but I use software now, LOL. I was not allowed to use a calculator but we could use a slide rule, LOL what a different world we live in today.

[@coachjerk77]

YES! It takes me forever to read a book though.

[@The_Cause]

That is a great idea. I do mark them up pretty heavy and fortunate because I am putting these books in video form all my notes get recorded on my computer. I am eventually going to switch them over to blog post and attach the video as supplement. But.. all in good time. Truly appreciate the advice and thanks I much for watching. Stay blessed my friend!

[@stretmediq]

I have all the Harvard Classics and all the Great Books of the Western World and I've read all of them but it took me about 30 years to do it but it was worth it. Btw I'm from Louisiana too

[@The_Cause]

Nice!! The Great Books are the next set I want to go through! I have been looking for a set but I can’t find anyone local selling one yet. Not in a rush though as it will probably take a couple years to get through Harvard classics with these videos. Looking back, do you think it was time well spent reading through these sets of books? Also, what part of Louisiana are you from? I live near Baton Rouge.

[@stretmediq]

@The_Cause I grew up in Bienville Parish but I have family in NOLA, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe and Shreveport and more in Mississippi. My grandmother was a college professor and I inherited my books from her and yes it was well worth the effort. It's just not easy especially if you have to work. Btw I live in Tulsa Oklahoma now but I still have most of my library Here's an old video of it I've added more shelves since this was made kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6rWm3mCaa5nd9Usi=5p-pC91MHC1RICvq

[@The_Cause]

Nice video! Just checked it out! Gives me some ideas on how to organize mine.

[@stretmediq]

@The_Cause the thing about the Harvard Classics and the Great Books of the Western World and other sets like them is they cover the entire spectrum of human thought because that's the way the world is so you get a broad general education. So that's the concept I built my library around

[@The_Cause]

That makes sense. I and definitely looking forward to getting through these and learning more. Just wish I had more time in the day to read but such is life! Stay blessed my friend and hit me up if you are ever driving through Baton Rouge and maybe we can catch some coffee.

[@ibnrushd1141]

OMG. My intellectual life has followed a path similar to yours. In my early twenties, I realized that my earlier "education" was criminally deficient. I have been trying to make up for it ever since. 62 years old now and still studying.

[@The_Cause]

That’s refreshing to hear! I feel that is going to be my path for the next couple decades. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@lanakane7325]

I inherited my mother’s complete collection of Harvard Classics. I, however, had a stellar education. My aforementioned mother was a teacher and I went to the best schools. I got my degree in English Literature. I consider this set to be one of my treasures. That said, I have not read them yet. I am very well read but there are so many wonderful things to read and I am excited to join on this journey.

[@The_Cause]

Well welcome aboard! I truly hope you enjoy going through these old books as much as I do. I suspect if you are well read then you may find some of the translations not as good as some more modern versions. I have heard that from some more educated people than myself but I find them rather easy to read so far. Haven’t gotten to Chaucer yet. Lol I truly appreciate you watching and for sharing your comment. Stay blessed and happy reading!

[@jeffreypaczynski5202]

i started reading this series, during my Christmas break this year. Honestly, if you can get your hands on these books, do it. There is so much good information. There is also a reading guild, that gives you pieces of the books to read each day. If you think you don’t have time, the daily readings take 15-20 minutes a day. I cannot suggest getting these books more.

[@The_Cause]

Great information my friend! Truly appreciate you watching and I hope you are enjoying the books as much as I am! Have a blessed new year and happy reading!

[@cbrpnk1789]

@@The_Cause The reading guide is in the last book in the collection. :-)

[@brad349miller]

I had enough. Finished 11th grade in spring '06. Enrolled in private school by paying tuition myself with a part time job and did two years there in order to get caught up and ahead.

[@The_Cause]

Nice! I enjoy the process I think more than I look forward to the outcome so sitting in my rocker, with a nice steaming cup of coffee, and a pencil to mark up is just something I can never get enough of. Thanks so much for watching my friend!

[@JohnPatrickWeiss]

I have my father’s complete Harvard Classics in my office, awaiting my attention. Thanks for the push. And you’re absolutely correct about the decline of our educational system. Barney videos and aversion to the Western Canon will not educate today’s youth. And amen on the device/attention span issue. Society today mindlessly scrolls through cat videos and TikTok piffle, to our own detriment and intellectual ruin.

[@The_Cause]

Completely agree! I feel it is our duty at this point to revisit these old texts and see where we all went wrong. I am not very far into the set yet but I am truly enjoying my time reading them. So much knowledge in there. Hope you enjoy them and chime in with your thoughts as you read through them! I would love to hear and learn what others thought of them. Thanks for watching my friend and stay blessed!

[@katiejon17]

As a wife to a teacher - the decline started within the homes. Schools, for the most part, have had to adjust for the reality of what is sitting in classrooms. Parents are sending their kids to kindergarten to be potty trained now, and lashing out at high school teachers for their kid’s failing grades. It’s a societal rot. We have chosen to homeschool because of this - the schools have to teach to the average... and the average now is no where near what average was even two decades ago.

[@The_Cause]

@@katiejon17 Those are some great points. I would love for someone to deep dive into the root of the issue. Was it culture, education, really easy times, or something else that started the demise? I would love to learn more about that. I just know we are not heading in a good direction. Truly appreciate the thoughtful comment!

[@katiejon17]

​@@The_Cause This ended-up being quite the lengthy reply. I guess I needed someone to hear what I observed. I gave up a 15 year RN career so that my kids could be homeschooled - and it’s not because of our local schools, but because of the current family norms, and how that would rub-off on my kids. Anyway - it’s a perspective to at least consider with all the others. From my perspective (former nurse, five of those years as a school nurse, and now a SAHM and homeschooler), this specific issue falls squarely on parents. Parents were convinced to relinquish their responsibilities as parents to schools and other government agencies, and in return they would have less hassle. Why parents would have even entertained this is beyond me. I’m not saying all parents (certainly not), and I’m not saying this is the only issue that got us here (certainly not). But it’s a big reason. I was a school nurse between 2013 - 2018, and in those years I was constantly battling school administration and the state board of education’s attempts to turn the school’s health office, into a clinic. For reference, most school nurses don’t fight it, they just comply. As a school nurse, I should only be there for unexpected medical emergency situations, for immediate first-aid (scrapes and bumps) or suddenly developed concerns (the “I don’t feel good” visits) and to make sure that we (the school) has everything we need to ONLY help the student access their education. But education bureaucrats see money and control - and they want in-school physicals, in-school evaluations, in-school medications, in-school counseling, in-school vaccination clinics, etc. These are all things that parents should never have let go of - turns out, parents really do manage it all better themselves, and are more competent leaders of their children. Schools also no longer hold students back, or “retain”. It’s not the standard anymore. I remember the principal and guidance counselor at the school I worked with explaining to me “it isn’t good for their self-confidence” (as if being so far behind is). Students are moved on to the next grade, and a lot of them are not even competent at the grade level they are at. And who’s going to address this with the schools? Full circle - the parents are checked-out. They don’t notice their sixth grader can barely read or write, they aren’t sitting down with them at home, the only communication with the school tends to be when something forces a wrench in their wheels (so, an inconvenience). And the schools have dropped merit-based promotion. My husband sees 11th graders in 11th level English - who are also at the same time, retaking 10th grade English because they failed it. He sees upperclassmen, who are not “special needs”, who have a reading comprehension level of a 7th grader. But he has to work with these students too. So instead of teaching to students who are appropriately in your class, and are at grade-level, his class will run the gamut of at grade level, advanced intellect/zero effort, good effort/fell through the cracks 5 years ago, and fell through the cracks/zero effort. He often hears these kids say “my parents don care anyway”, or some variation of that sentiment. Parents are checked out because “the school’s got this” -> school admins are assuring parents they “got this” -> more funding comes if schools take on more tasks -> as parents relinquish responsibility, they further get lost in the distractions -> schools will never be able to compensate for parents (not ever), but now the parents are no longer their kid’s safety net because.... go back to the first line of this paragraph and repeat. It’s a cycle. Parents have been told this is “convenient” for them. It is not. This strips away a parent’s crucial role as the PRIMARY and SOLE decision maker of their child. They are so used to being checked-out... because “the school does that”. Now throw in that most adults have cell phone addiction, are constantly texting, are always on social media, etc... they are so thoroughly checked-out from parenting. Their children, as much as they truly love them, are not being “raised” and “parented”, they are merely coexisting with their kids. These are dark times. But those of us who at least see this, are changing course. We are homeschooling, we are opting for private schools, we are not giving our kids tablets/phones, we are sitting down to dinner every night, we are reading to them and with them daily, we are showing them how we meal plan, shop, budget, etc. It’s a whole revival on the other side. So, it all bad.

[@mklives2]

I encourage you to form opinions based on objective, demonstrable facts, not based on your subjective experience and impressions. The reality is that the entire population today is more literate and knowledgeable than at any time in the past. This is an absolute fact, which can be easily demonstrated by data. It is also commonsense. We know have more knowledge than ever before. Back in Plato’s or Descartes’ time, they had a tiny, tiny fraction of the knowledge that we have now, and the overwhelming majority of the population could not read at all.

[@dianazoelle6875]

My Uncle gave me the entire set when I was a teenager, then took credit for my interest in post-secondary education 🙂

[@The_Cause]

Haha that’s about how uncles are! What an amazing gift to give someone though. Thanks so much for watching and truly hope you have a blessed week!

[@maggiebraun2011]

Rob the fact that you are on this journey of educational self-fulfillment makes you a scholar in the truest since of the word! You are willing to share your journey and engage in a dialogue about your endeavors....I can't think of a better definition.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much! I truly appreciate hearing that! This series has been a joy to make and I am learning a lot in the process. Thanks so much for tuning in and have a very blessed new year!

[@chasesutherland1168]

I grew up in NC and feel exactly as you do about my education growing up and my attitude towards reading

[@The_Cause]

Haha yes indeed. Hopefully we can change that for future generations but we will see. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and have a great week! Stay blessed!

[@chriswimer6296]

I’ve had the Harvard Classics sitting on my shelves for several years now and I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t read a single one. I love and agree with everything you said in this video; thank you. You’ve inspired me to actually open these books up and read them, and to gain an intimate and personal understanding of their contents. Really looking forward to this series. Thank you

[@The_Cause]

That’s so cool to hear! Sadly the set I have doesn’t seem to have been ever opened or read either. But it’s our duty to change that! Haha truly appreciate you watching and I hope my series can help get you through them. Would love to hear your thoughts on the books as you go through them. Stay blessed brother!

[@justinchan6043]

I commend you for reading this series. I have never owned the Harvard Classics, but I did major in English and minored in philosophy at Rutgers College. So, I had to read some of these authors for school. I do lament though, the fully grown adult who may have never encountered these books before. I don't even want to think of the limitations of the American public education system. I was an English teacher, too, so I know what that's like. I did find it funny though, that the curator of these series of books thought that these were essential readings for the cultivated man of the early 1900s. At that time, there was such a priority of constructing the perfect scholar and if you did not tick off all the boxes, then you were considered a buffoon. I suppose, even today, such a notion exists within academia and the Ivy Leagues. It's like, you won't be invited to tea at the yacht club, unless you were well-versed in Homer, Socrates, and the French Revolution. I think my only gripe with the Harvard Classics is that, being that it was created in 1909, many great works that were written in the 20th Century is thus omitted from the series. So, I recommend, after reading this series, then read books from the modernist movement in both literature and philosophy.

[@The_Cause]

Most definitely. I think the Harvard classics are very foundational. Before reading more modern philosophers I wanted to have a good base line of where they would be coming from. And I agree that our modern education system sadly does not teach any of these old books anymore. I think these works were so important to understand back in the day because they knew that our form of government required the populace to be educated to a certain level and have a culture that promoted the free thought that western civilization promotes. We have seen that collapse in understanding directly affect the way our government is ran. The understanding of these foundational texts go deeper than I think we realize. I want to do a video on that soon to explain it better. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@DennisCNolasco]

I'd also like to recommend the Collier's Junior Classics (10 volumes). I think they are the perfect place for getting kids to read. This was how I learned about mythology, folk and fairy tales, and classic stories when I was a kid. I recently bought a set again since my childhood set was lost over the years. I would even recommend it to adults as well. The stories are shorter, but they aren't dumbed down and cover a wide range of types and cultures.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to try and find a set on marketplace.

[@Krystalbrown1105]

After I got out of the military, I had no idea what I wanted to do as far as my education. 12 years later, I have an MBA and am working on my DBA. Post Graduate Education has taught me so much that I would have never learned otherwise. I also have a huge passion for history and make it a point to read 10 nonfiction history books yearly!

[@The_Cause]

Nice!! If you used the GI Bill all I can say is, how about that BAH? Going through school with the GI bill was nice! Love seeing veterans progressing nicely outside of the service. I love nonfiction. Only problem is that’s all I have read over the past few years. Challenged myself last month to listen to Great Expectations on Audible and I am blown away with how much I enjoy it. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed! Thanks for serving too!

[@heartsandmindsathome]

This is music to a homeschool mama’s heart. 🎶 Great cause, keep it up!

[@The_Cause]

Thank you so much! So cool to see all the support from other homeschoolers because we go this! Thanks so much for watching.

[@ericb2409]

I’ve been reading through the Great Books of the Western World set with a couple of friends for 5 years now for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Wishing you the best on your journey. I love that you are doing this. We should all be doing this. You should not have to be a professional scholar to cultivate and exercise your God given mind. I consider this one of our unalienable rights. Those who would control us all prefer a dumbed down unthinking herd. I for one refuse that fate!

[@The_Cause]

Amen to that! Very powerful statement and I concur. I am no scholar by any means but it is very enjoyable going through these books at a very digestible pace. I actually just got a set of the Great Books about two weeks ago. What an amazing set! I feel the Harvard Classics is a similar to a marathon. The Great Books is like one of those insane 100 mile ultra runs. I admire your commitment for that challenging set. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@ericb2409]

@@The_CauseI forgot to mention I am a new subscriber as of this morning. I will follow along with your journey.

[@The_Cause]

Awesome! Thanks so much for subbing and I really hope you enjoy the channel! Means a lot!

[@jocelynnelson]

My husband bought me this set as a collectible and to homeschool our future kids. I've been wanting to go though it on my own and this is the push I needed. Thank you for this channel!

[@fidalf99]

It's always very encouraging to stumble upon a person on similar journey to gain wisdom and better themselves. Through studying history in free time I've realised men like those you've mentioned were on an another level entirely regarding education. Less was known, but they knew more still.

[@The_Cause]

Well said! I completely agree. I like to think they had less distractions back then but that is probably not the case. They had issues back then that we do not face today. I feel they exercised discipline much more than we do now days. Thanks for watching my friend!

[@oliviacrocker6877]

Motivated by much of the same reasons stated here, I’ve been attempting to read through the Britannica Great Books, which has a lot of overlap with this set. I found it very difficult at first, but I’ve now grown to genuinely prefer them to the contemporary books I read. At current pace, it will likely take me around 8-10 years to complete…here’s to hoping the motivation holds!

[@The_Cause]

The Great Books is a massive set in comparison with the Harvard Classics. I just purchased the Great Books a couple weeks ago and realized just how much info is in them and the font size is much smaller and the pages thinner. I consider the Harvard Classics a marathon, but the Great Books are kind of like those crazy 100 mile ultra races that people do. Kudos to taking on that challenge and I agree, 10+ years would probably be my pace to get through them. Thanks so much for watching and good luck on your journey! Stay blessed!

[@jakealden2517]

I'm glad I came across this channel. I teach literature and history to college students, but I am also on a journey of trying to educate myself because, like you, I look back and realize I missed out on a real education when I was younger.

[@The_Cause]

Thats so cool to hear! Good teachers are needed more than ever now days. If I had any talent at it I would love to teach a history class or something. I do not know if I could handle the students now days though. The Harvard Classic and The Great Book I feel are both great places to start. Best of luck on your journey my friend!

[@ianboard544]

When I was in 3rd grade in the 60's, an experimental 'great literature' program was offered for kids. It was a set of 6 or 7 relatively short books that came in a little box. The kids would read them then get together once a week after school to talk about what they had read. Among the ones I remember were Gogol's 'The Overcoat' and Stephen Crane's 'The Open Boat'. Besides the fact that almost no one reads any more, what strikes me is that kids are way more capable of reading and digesting good literature than adults give them credit for.

[@The_Cause]

I agree. I think many people hold back kids from reading harder text in the belief that it will be over their heads. We just finished a junior classics Oliver Twist with my 5 and 6 year old and they were all about it. I had to explain a few things but they still talk about the story. Another few years and they will be reading Charles Dickens original on their own. Kids are capable of so much more than we allow now days. Truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts and thanks for watching. Stay blessed!

[@MrRezillo]

Kudos for your efforts, Rob. Videos almost make me think there's still hope for the culture we live in.

[@The_Cause]

There is still hope! I really feel the classical movement has a chance of growing as society starts to decline. People are already looking to solutions and ways to repair the mess we have created. Truly appreciate you watching and thanks so much for the nice comment. Stay blessed my friend!

[@tommcgraw2576]

I’m next door in Mississippi and feel the same way you do about our education. Looking very forward to this series of videos.

[@The_Cause]

Haha yes indeed. What part of Mississippi? We used to hunt around Liberty a good bit back in the day. Truly appreciate you following along and stay blessed my friend!

[@SurvivalReview]

Ya'll should try funding it. I grew up in Mississippi and used to make excuses for the way things were in the south. Then I moved away and realized it isn't the systems, it is the corrupt power centers in the south and the voting public's inability to see past their religion. Voltaire would laugh his ass off at the Bible belt.

[@thinhkha5187]

It’s incredibly refreshing to see people sharing a similar mindset to my own. I, too, realized after high school that the peak for greatness is so much higher than the 4.0 GPA or most academic merits, and I ‘ve cheated myself a lot of my potential by being content with mediocrity. I especially feel that this mindset should be encouraged in the youth more than ever seeing the travesty of intellectualism the public education system have produced. Great work man, found it really inspiring.

[@The_Cause]

Truly appreciate the support and kind words. Completely agree with your sentiments. This is my little effort to help solve a massive problem that is going to take generations to correct. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@519djw6]

*Regarding the so-called smart-phones, I think that Thoreau was being very prophetic when he wrote, "We have become the tool of our tools."*

[@The_Cause]

That’s a good one. I have not read Thoreau much but I am looking forward to getting to his section in the Harvard classics. If he could only see the tools we have now and what they have turned us into. Thanks for watching my friend!

[@Cantankerous_Mr_Toad]

It's not often I watch one 7 minute clip and decide that I'm all in and subscribe. I've been collecting books for a long time, reading whatever historical and religious works interest me, but lately, I've been wondering,'What really makes a man well read?' I am looking forward to this progress. I'll join you, by picking up a set, likely a volume at a time.

[@The_Cause]

Well welcome aboard my friend! I am truly thankful to have you along. I think this is going to be a fun journey and I am anxious to see how I change in the process. I’m hoping this series can help motivate others to complete them. I truly appreciate you subscribing and hope you enjoy the reading. Stay blessed my friend!

[@WayneCoolJr]

I don't know how I stumbled on your video but so happy that I did. I just entered a new decade of life and am mapping out things I want to achieve before the next decade range begins. A voracious reader myself, and one that enjoys deep, meditative thinking, your explanation and journey into the Harvard Classics has motivated me to add the same goal to my list, starting now. This is really a wonderful idea and I appreciate your candor with your own past and upbringing as the spark that lit this fire. Excited to see where this journey takes you and where it takes me, too!

[@The_Cause]

That is so cool to hear! I truly hope you do indeed embark on this journey and if you are anything like me you will find it such a joy in today’s age! Thank you so much for watching and have a blessed new year!

[@scottmorschhauser4421]

I'm retired and have several degrees... but we don't dive as deep into the liberal arts as we once did unfortunately. I just bought a set of the Harvard Classics and although a little behind will be joining you on this journey.

[@The_Cause]

Heck ya! Truly appreciate you joining along and hope you enjoy them! It has been a joy for personally so far. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@heatherreed9851]

KZbin recommended this video, and I'm so happy it did! I teach in a public school system in West Virginia (so we're right there with you in lowest rankings), and I often ask myself "what has happened to public schools?" when reflecting on my own experience and how/what I teach now. It's a conversation I seem to only have with myself because few people seem to care. I am still a huge advocate for public schools. We do a lot of things right, but there is so much we need to change. Now, I'm mad (embarrassed?) because I've never heard of the Harvard Classics. I am familiar with the Great Books of the Western World (Mortimer Adler) and have noticed there is some overlap with the HC. Thanks to you, I've now become obsessed with this series of books! Where did you learn of them? and Where did you acquire your set? Finally, I too am an ultramarathon runner and coffee is life. Thank you for your videos.

[@The_Cause]

Hey! First, thanks so much for checking out my channel as I truly appreciate it! I first five mmm started to dive down the rabbit hole after reading Gatto’s book, Dumbing Us Down. The Harvard classics (by Dr. Elliot) was in my opinion the first attempt to really create one set of books to provide a true liberal arts education. Adler came about 50 years later and took the concept to the next level with the Great Books which is more complete and in depth than the Harvard Classics. I purchased my set off of Facebook marketplace. Depending on where you live you can easily pick them up for about 300-400 dollars. I wish you the best of luck with the public school system and I know these two series are to much for any grade or school to really cover but to at least introduce and explain the importance to students if these two sets is still great. Thanks so much again for the nice comment! Always great speaking to another coffee drinking ultra runner! Stay blessed!!

[@TediousDraven]

I'm pleased to hear that you're interested in exploring the Harvard volumes deeper. Your courage, curiosity, and determination to read these books are admirable. I'll be glad to follow your reviews about each one of the volumes you'll read!

[@The_Cause]

Well I would love to have you along and truly appreciate you watching! Stay blessed my friend!

[@rodsalvador3608]

Awesome! I went through CA public schools 20-30 years ago and barely got any exposure to classical western thought. I noticed the difference in college between myself and prep school kids who could rattle off Aristotle or Cicero off the top of their heads. I got my hands on at least 35 of Harvard classics, read Plutarch, the Stoics and Franklin. Frankly, I need to read them again before I get too old to care or comprehend. Subscribed!

[@The_Cause]

haha yes indeed! I am really looking forward to getting to Plutarch. I have heard so much about it and that book is referenced so much in these other writers it almost seems like a cornerstone to most of this literature in the Harvard Classics. Thanks so much for watching my friend!

[@TheNeoDaedalus]

Haven't read these books myself, however what people describe getting from these reminds me of my own reading of 'Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy' by Jostein Gaarder. In this case it's only one book, but it goes over a long history of philosophy and explains the core ideas of those philosophies and their respective philosophers. I found it very eye-opening and thought provoking. Certainly one of the most important works of literature I've read in my youth and would higly recommend to anyone who wishes to have a similar self-education/mind-expanding experience.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much for sharing! I have not heard of that book yet so I will most definitely add it to my list to check out. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and I hope you stay blessed.

[@RogueReplicant]

Yes! After my parents divorced when I was 14, I dropped out of school to help my mom in her grocery store. But I loved reading so much that I used to haunt a distant bookstore, hungry for knowledge and culture. I married at 22, got the GED at 26, and an online bachelor's at 32. But I never stopped reading voraciously, fiction and non-fiction.

[@The_Cause]

Yes indeed and honestly that is the true American story in my opinion. Education is not always perfect and it is nice to see that you stayed in pursuit. Hope all has been well and thanks so much for watching! Stay blessed my friend.

[@moniquelemaire5333]

It's great to see an entire KZbin channel dedicated to the Harvard Classics🎉😊. Congratulations 🎉👏. Our society needs this big time!! I had the complete set that I bought used from my local library book nook. I read a majority of the books and later gave the entire collection to a friend who was homeschooling her children. You should have seen her eyes get big with an expression of extreme glee. I taught her children piano lessons. Even at young ages they were far ahead of most public school children. They were very good at their piano lessons as well. I have been wanting to start a small Christian school devoted to a "classical Christian" education model, but to develop the curriculum myself. Please continue the great work that you have started😊. Miss Monique 🙂🙏🌷💗

[@The_Cause]

That’s so cool to hear. I would love to have a small classical school like that here where we live. We use Memoria Press’s curriculum at the moment and it is very detailed and dense. The problem is I do not have the knowledge of the classics to really judge it against anything. Truly appreciate you watching and I will definitely be continuing the series!

[@Ricky-es9vg]

Hey Rob. I think this is a truly great thing you are doing here. I am recent graduate not from Harvard but a top 50 university in America, and while my experience was very pivotal for gaining some opportunities I previously did not have, few things have been so rewarding like the self education of reading the great books. It is an amazing feeling to know you are juggling with some of the greatest thinkers there ever were, and all on your own. So much is learned about oneself, or at least I felt that way. It’s a transformative process that leaves you a whole new person. The number one book I gained tremendous value from, and still revisit, is called The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

[@The_Cause]

Man… I just got a set of the Great Books in last week! It’s the 60 volume newer version and I am excited to dive into them one day. I have committed to the Harvard Classics, so I am going to complete them first. I can understand what you mean by transformative. I can already tell my mind is shifting and my vocabulary expanding. I am really excited to see how I will feel once I complete volume 50. I feel it’s like running a marathon. What you think you are physically capable of changes drastically once you finish one. I feel the same will be in the case of completing this classical series. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and have a great week. Stay blessed!

[@Ricky-es9vg]

@@The_Cause Yes, definitely like a marathon in that sense! I am sure you will find one or multiple in that set that really speak to you! Have a great week too.

[@wuzup789able]

Adler and Van Doren’s “How to Read a Book” is probably one of the best books in anyone’s journey in self education. It’s one of my favorites. Also Sister Miriam Joseph’s “The Trivium” is quintessential in learning the all-important trivium. I have applied to a school that teaches both these books and I hope to be accepted there. But for those who are on a self education path, these two books are great.

[@The_Cause]

I purchased Adler's How to Read a Book and plan to make a video on it soon. So many people have recommended it that I feel I have to read it at this point. Thanks so much for sharing and I will definitely check out the others. Stay blessed!

[@plungeybabie]

Hello from New Zealand, your video has really hit home for me, I'm on my own re-education journey now in my early 30s. Looking forward to more videos!

[@The_Cause]

Yes indeed! We are on the same path then. Best of luck on your journey and have a blessed new year!

[@anthonyhocking9118]

Although I'm South African, I had a marvelous high school education,(three langages including Latin, and three sciences...that was it!)which was all my parents could afford. And that's all I needed. I went on to pay my own way through university, where I studied accounting and economics. Now I'm retired, I'm scouring every second hand bookstore I can and devouring the classics. (Concentrating on late 19th century/early 20th century) And you're so right, attention span improves. Trouble is I battle now to find any contemporary writers worth reading.

[@The_Cause]

Do you feel your time learning Latin was benefitial. Also, it is so cool to see that someone from South Africa is enjoying these videos as well. Love hearing the different perspectives on a common love we all share. Thanks for watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@anthonyhocking9118]

@@The_Cause Hi. Latin was a pain in the neck. BUT... 50 years on, I'm glad I did it. Everything has an upside. Stay safe.

[@karenposselt8275]

This is an excellent idea! I just subscribed and look forward to following along with you. I homeschooled my son for high school school and we read many classics together- it was fantastic.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much for the sub and welcome aboard! We are hoping to do the same things with our kids. It almost seems like the only way now days the more we look around at our local options. Glad to hear it went well and that’s motivating. Appreciate you watching and stay blessed!

[@babyxface94]

Very admirable! I can’t wait to watch the series 😊

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much! I truly hope you enjoy and thanks for watching!

[@arevikheboyan]

I am joining you in this journey. I have read parts of collection, but never committed to finishing the series.

[@The_Cause]

Heck ya! Glad to have you on board this adventure through the series! It’s been fun hearing everyone’s thoughts on all these different works. Thanks so much for watching and happy reading! Stay blessed!

[@alexluthiger731]

I stopped studying at university when I discovered the books we weren't supposed to read. My parents couldn't understand when I told them only 1st death would be able to stop my earthly studying. What a treasure to have all the great thinkers in your personal library out from the same editor. One might get envious! 🍷😎

[@The_Cause]

Haha yes indeed! It’s amazing that all this is so available now days. Thanks for watching my friend!

[@alexluthiger731]

@@The_Cause thank you, Rob, for your inspiring input. You're a true brother in the Spirit of our heavenly father and his beloved firstborn from the dead, the Christ Jesus from Nazareth. It's a great gift to have access to the real good books from men and women of the Spirit. 🍷😁

[@FredHenry1850]

I first came across the Harvard Classics while in university. I was highly intrigued by it. Good for you! Keep it up!

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much! Definitely going to keep putting them out. Truly enjoying this series. Thanks for watching and have a blessed new year!

[@Mannihannibull]

This is great man. I'm trying hard to move away from devices, tv, video games, etc. I deleted and uninstalled social media (except KZbin, I'm still working on that) I've decided to read a chapter a day from multiple books before I engage with media devices. Right now I'm working at Moby dick and the lord of the rings trilogy. After being so hopelessly dependent on social media, I'm finding it immensely difficult to focus on long form content. It's a struggle. But every day it gets a little easier.

[@The_Cause]

I commend you my good friend. We appear to be in the same canoe paddling up the same stream. I wish you the best of luck on your journey and hope you find all the joy you deserve in the process. Have blessed weekend my friend!

[@reid.b2926]

Love your frame of mind going into this. You've inspired me to do the same.

[@The_Cause]

Nice!! Really hope you do and I highly doubt you will regret it. I have been really enjoying reading through these books. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@asdisskagen6487]

Thank you for doing this! I weep for the collapse of American education and don't think that we, as a nation, will know the full extent of the devastation this decline will wreck for a generation or more. I am thrilled that you will be posting your summaries/thoughts on each volume and look forward to hearing what you have to say. I am not aware of anyone in my area that is engaging in deep reading so it's nice to have someone to "read along" with.

[@The_Cause]

I hear ya! I am reading through Paradise Lost now and nobody I speak to in my personal life has read it. It has been nice to have this little community to go through this series with. I learn as much from the comments from others as I do from the books sometimes. Truly appreciate you watching and looking forward to hearing your thoughts as you go through these books!

[@asdisskagen6487]

@@The_Cause I am saving up for the GBWW series and am currently reading "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. I am interested to learn more about Stoicism and thought that might be a good place to start. I found Mortimer Adler's "Six Great Ideas" series on KZbin, which dovetails nicely with his 10-volume "Great Ideas Program" precursor to GBWW.

[@tgleo1]

What an extraordinary example you set for all of us of educating ourselves! I'm retired and have adopted catching up on a lifetime of reading as my vocation in retirement, and although my reading list is long, I do plan to dig in to the Harvard Classics with you.

[@The_Cause]

Well welcome aboard! Glad to have you along on the journey. It has been a blast so far and I must say it has been well worth it in my opinion. Truly hope you are enjoying your retirement and thanks so much for watching. Stay blessed!

[@WhitmoreReads]

I had to quote you on my Facebook. I enjoyed this video. New sub here. "It's hard to respect something you've never been taught." Rob Pirie-The Cause #thecause #robpirie

[@The_Cause]

Hey! Truly appreciate you subbing and glad you enjoyed the video! I think that line is more true today than ever. We have to get back to valuing people, the family and education or we are going to be in a very difficult situation. Hope you have a great week and stay blessed!

[@austinrucker3853]

I picked up a set of the Harvard Classics this past spring. I have had the same feeling about how my school years was wasted. I've come to discover some of the great works and it really is like an awakening to a new world. If your interested in connecting on any of the topics or books reach out. Thanks for starting this channel!

[@The_Cause]

I would love that! Connecting with others who are reading through them would be a fun journey. I’m excited to get these out there and meet more people of the same mindset. Hit me up at [e-mail] and let’s connect. Where are located?

[@austinrucker3853]

@The_Cause Will do and I'm from Kentucky.

[@The_Cause]

Nice! Truly appreciate you reaching out and for supporting my channel! Means a lot. Looking forward to connecting.

[@laulaja-7186]

This kind of content is exactly why I remain a KZbin addict in spite of the widespread trash and the algorithmic thought police.

[@The_Cause]

haha yes indeed. There have been some great podcasts and other channels that have started recently. Like you said, there is still a ton of garbage. I am glad to hear my ranks with the better ones. I enjoy making them and hope that others find as much value in these old books as I am. Thanks for watching my friend and stay blessed!

[@bertramvanhouten9916]

Hi Rob, just came across your channel. Wanted to express my support and gratefulness for the effort you put into this initiative. In this day and age where quality knowledge, consideration and critical thinking is sort of pushed to the background by bite size digital news and content, we can really use people like you. Looking forward to consuming more of your video’s and challenge my own reading and thinking. M cheers.

[@The_Cause]

I humbly appreciate the feedback! I am enjoying making these videos so that makes it all the better. I hope this series inspires others to pick up some old books and explore topics in their own minds without the distraction of pixels and notifications. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@DennisCNolasco]

Excellent series, I have the whole set in ebook format, but have only read some stuff so far. Looking forward to seeing you discuss it more.

[@The_Cause]

Glad to hear you are enjoying them! Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new year!

[@MarysInks]

This is such a great and ambitious idea! I did have the opportunity to read a lot of classic works in high school and college, but I skim read and flubbed my way through. Lately I’ve been wishing I had actually read everything I had been assigned. I’m planning to join the Hardcore Literature Club. The guy who runs it here in KZbin seems like a great discussion leader. Good luck to you! I look forward to your future videos.

[@The_Cause]

I hear you on wishing you would have actually read. I didn’t take school serious back in the day. As I have gotten older I appreciate it so much more. I am going to have to look up this hardcore literature club. With work, family, reading and making these videos I don’t know how much more I can devote to other reading. Def curious though. Thanks for sharing!

[@chrissyhiking]

Wow this is awesome! Now you've inspired me to read some of these classics. I just subscribed so I can see what you learn from these books 😄

[@The_Cause]

Thats so cool! Truly glad to have you on board and looking forward to hearing how you experience goes! Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@Barnabas94]

Self-education is the gift that keeps on giving. Glad to have another travel companion.

[@The_Cause]

It is indeed. Glad to have you on board as well. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@MrSoBitchy]

I have a problem with modern education and that is that everything has to be a game, or a song, or dance, everything needs to be made easier and fun. That creates a problem being: whenever kids find, inevitably, hardship in the future, they’ll have zero idea how to handle it

[@The_Cause]

That’s is our school in a nutshell. If it doesn’t make sounds, have pictures, or interact then discard it. Haha thanks for watching and have a blessed new year!

[@MrSoBitchy]

@@The_Cause I'm from Brazil, so it's not only happening in the US, it's a general problem

[@ruskiny280]

The best utterance ever Sermon on the Mount. ""Render good for evil done"

[@The_Cause]

The sermon on the mount is the best teaching that has ever been written and passed down. If the would could ever just take the simple advice from that sermon we would live in an entirely different way. Appreciate you bringing that up!

[@outaview]

Thank you for sharing. I have been on that same path for some time. I lacked a proper education and a proper growing up as I was for the lack of a better term badly abused. So now like you, I am trying to rediscover what I have missed or don't remember.

[@The_Cause]

Like I keep telling myself, it’s never too late to start. I truly hope you find what you are searching for and if nothing else you find the peace and joy in these old books. Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new years!

[@jamesdavey9690]

I have a beautiful green bound copy of Volume 2, but had no idea this was such a comprehensive book series. I'm definitely going to start collecting the rest of them. Thanks so much for the series, I'm looking forward to watching!

[@The_Cause]

The green volumes are the nicest looking set in my opinion. I would love to pick up a set one day. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and hope you enjoy the series!

[@jamesdavey9690]

@@The_Cause Thanks, mate! Keep up the good work.

[@michaelchandler490]

I hope it goes well for you. Your project is certainly a worthy one.

[@The_Cause]

I truly appreciate that! It has been a joy so far to put these videos out. We will see how I feel once I get to volume 42 but so far so good! Thanks so much for watching my friend!

[@ultimusprimus7816]

I remember going to a book sale at my local library, they were selling a the whole set of the Harvard Classics I only wanted to get books from the Skeptics but I contemplated just getting the whole set for that 40 dollar price I regret not getting the full set cuz of this video lol Can’t wait for you to discuss Locke, Hume and Berkley

[@The_Cause]

Dang that would have been a deal. I paid that just in shipping! Haha I am definitely looking forward to Locke and Hume. Currently reading Francis Bacon’s Essays now and I just love the way he expressed ideas and how he used words like art work to explain a point or idea. Been a great learning experience for sure. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@JFlower7]

My four grown kids read many of these wonderful classics(homeschooled) then went to Classical Universities. Good job--keep up the good work.

[@The_Cause]

That’s is refreshing to hear as we are elbows deep in the beginning stages of the homeschool journey. Curious to know which classical universities they went to and where they satisfied with them?

[@seanrrr]

I was disappointed at first when I saw that this set of books ranges anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Yet surprisingly, you can get an ebook version (plus the 20 fiction classics) for only one dollar. Say what you want about the problems of the modern digital era, but it's incredible that we all have access to this vast wealth of knowledge. I might give these a try!

[@The_Cause]

It is crazy indeed. The kindle set is very inexpensive. The digital era is amazing for those that are discipline in their use of it. The problem arrises when we are indiscipline and, as I have fallen into before, get consumed by meme videos and doom scroll hours a day of our life. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed!

[@Devansh-nu4qw]

Although I'm a bit late, but this is a great idea for a KZbin series. I'm myself believe in the process of Socratic learning, and even though I'm currently undergoing a traditional education (college undergrad right now), supplementing it with resources like this seems like a necessity for deep and intellectual understanding.

[@The_Cause]

Glad to have you aboard my friend! That’s is exactly why I am making this series. I hope it can help those who may not have the time to currently read through them all. Thanks so much for watching and have a blessed new year!

[@GoshenLights]

Definitely consider Vishal Magalwadi’s “The Book that Shaped Your World” to ground your classical learning. Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalm 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

[@The_Cause]

I will put it on my list for 2024! Truly appreciate you sharing and love the passages. 119 is a special one for sure. Going to have to read it over again now. Thanks so much for watching!

[@ClassicalTory]

I had a similar journey. I didn't consider myself educated until around age 36 when I started reading through Mortimer Adler's Great Books Series (I've read about 25 of them).

[@The_Cause]

Nice!! I just got that set a few weeks back. The Great Books are dense! 25 volumes in and I can tell you have covered some stuff. We are on the same journey then my friend. Truly hope you find everything you are looking for and enjoy it!

[@karthik_516]

Got recommended this channel through chance: love it already! Thank you for making this series and inspiring others to pursue knowledge! Instant sub!

[@The_Cause]

Welcome aboard! I truly appreciate you watching and for the kind words!

[@lowman621]

Hey Rob, I too, like many others it seems, has stumbled onto you video and what you have undertaken to accomplish. I love it! And want to say, what a noble pursuit! I wish you the best of luck. I currently host an international book club that purely focuses on the Classics, and if I wasnt so busy with that I would totally come aboard. We have read and have scheduled to read several of the works you will be reading: The Mill on the Floss, Anna Karenina, The Portrait of a Lady, etc. I have the Complete Harvard Classics collection on Kindle but would live to own the complete physical collection like I see behind you in the video. How did you obtain the whole set...it looks amazing?! Good luck to you and all who join in and let you minds and lives be enriched from this journey! 📚😊

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much!! I truly appreciate the kind words. It’s been a complete joy of a project to start. Loving the entire process so far… that may change by volume 42! Haha In regards to classics, I am actually listening to Great Expectations on audible and it blows my mind how good the writing is. Charles Dickens just has such a way with words that I have come to really appreciate. They communicate so much with so few words and the detail and scenes are just extraordinary. I would like to start doing some more community things like a book club as the channel grows and connect more with people. As far as the Harvard Classics set, I found mine on FaceBook market place. If you take a few months you can usually fine an amazing deal on them. I bought them for $375. I looked for a long time for a set of the Great books and finally found one close and they were the second version printed in 2003. Old man wanted to downsize and let me have them for $400. Perfect condition and you can tell they were never opened. My wife has now cut my access to FB marketplace and committed me to read all the books I have purchased before I buy any more. So, I have been reading a lot! Haha thanks so much for watching and truly appreciate your comment. Stay blessed and have a great week!

[@dylan-cj1cg]

As a fellow Louisiana boy I can relate to this all to well! Subbed

[@The_Cause]

Haha yes indeed! Truly appreciate you subbing and thanks so much for watching! Hope you have a great week and stay blessed! Finally getting some cool weather down here.

[@LeandroCapstick]

I really admire your ambition! It's great to see someone taken by curiosity for the classics. Through circumstance I have been granted the privilege of studying history at university. Even there we do not have to read many of these books, but some of them we do. For most of them you're expected you read them on your own time or at least extract the main arguments and know the core passages. It's really eye opening and beautiful stuff that really makes you understand why people have been reading these books for thousands of years. I sincerely hope you're successful in your goal, because there is no doubt in my mind that you'll come out of it a wiser man.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much! I truly appreciate the kind words. I would love to have studied history more in college. Do you mind if I ask what you are majoring in? Is there a certain period of history you are focusing on? Thanks for watching as well my friend!

[@LeandroCapstick]

@@The_Cause I'm majoring in general history and minoring in ancient studies / classics. I focus primarily on ancient and medieval European history.

[@NoidoDev]

I first read a book compiling a lot of these books and similar ones, and introducing the reader to them, then I picked the ones I was most interested in.

[@The_Cause]

That’s a great idea too. Almost like a food platter to sample before wasting time on stuff you don’t enjoy. I like that!

[@EyeLean5280]

It's not just a government institution, it's _any_ institution. We should indeed always be seeking things out on our own. But we should have people more learned than us involved also because, well, we don't know what we don't know. There needs to be a balance between guidance and personal initiative.

[@The_Cause]

Completely agree. The problem is like you said, not knowing what you don’t know. Hard to know who to listen to when you are younger and haven’t been guided properly. I would love to focus on some dedicated content in that area once I get a little more versed in all this. Thanks so much again for watching and I have enjoyed the comments! Stay blessed!

[@TheNutmegStitcher]

This is so great. When my kids were young, we decided to homeschool them using a classical curriculum. The goal was two fold: provide a better education than the lackluster one I had AND redeem my own at the same time. It was a wonderful do-over. 20 years later, I consider it the second best decision I ever made.

[@The_Cause]

I’m so happy to hear that. I am kind of on that same journey. Trying to figure out the school curriculum and all that for the kids. I also realize I am basically going to have to go back through school with them! Haha thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@TheNutmegStitcher]

@@The_Cause We eventually joined a Classical Conversations community which relieved the majority of my guess work, and the kids thrived in that setting (my daughter recently married a man she met there). My son is 25, and seems very much like you. An outdoorsy, flannel wearing, family oriented southern philosopher and serious reader who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

[@TheThinkInstitute]

Walking through the famous five-foot shelf of books is a great idea. I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes.

[@The_Cause]

Well welcome aboard! Thanks for watching and I truly hope you enjoy them. Have a blessed new year my friend!

[@connerbrown7569]

Very well said. I come from a similar background and find myself on the same journey. I look forward to following along with you!

[@The_Cause]

Welcome aboard my friend! I am truly excited to have you along. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@robertlotzer7627]

The best time to start a classical education is in grammar school. The second best time is now!

[@The_Cause]

Yes indeed! My pops use to always ask, "Do you know how to do that?" and if the answer was, No, he would say, "Well no better time than the present to learn, come on." Truly appreciate you watching my friend and stay blessed!

[@rhahnabunaid]

I'm currently in college studying to become a teacher of English. For our second year literature class, they swapped 1984 for Bridget Jones's Diary ... I'm also one of the very few in my class who actually reads on a daily basis. It's abysmal.

[@The_Cause]

Wow.. 1984 should be required reading. I would love to see what the reading list is for that program. Reading on your own will probably be the single most important benefactor to your education. Thanks so much for watching my friend and best of luck on your education!

[@Tamoor622498]

Damn, 1984 has shaped my world view ever since I read it in high school. Swapping it with any other book is a tragedy.

[@nateb9768]

My current state-run university somehow does not have the funds to hire a new Public Historian once the previous one retired. Hence I found a professor from Alabama who posts his lectures for free. And one of the lecture series is from his Public History class. Sometimes when the institutions in charge value Business and STEM degrees more than the social sciences we have to get creative to obtain information free of cost.

[@The_Cause]

Yes indeed! That is exactly what I hope to do with this channel. Provide the best experience on these old classics as possible. It is a sad state but I understand it at a certain level. They want builders, developers, and designers. Plato's Republic doesn't code the next app or design better bridges. Thanks so much for watching my friend!

[@MrSontaran3]

Thank you. A lightbulb has turned on in my head. Reading is good for the mind!

[@The_Cause]

Yes indeed! It def helps keep you centered and is food for the soul!

[@angelacraw2907]

Sounds really interesting. The mobile phone seems to be an adult pacifier. What we see on it may worry us so we look at soothing shorts to calm us. Its an alarming cycle. Although, saying that I too use devices, but my attention span hasn't changed. I read extensively more so than ever. Your video has peaked my interest and I'll go and have a look at the list. Thank you for uploading.

[@The_Cause]

I agree with the “adult pacifier”. I love that! Truly appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts. Stay blessed and have a great day!

[@davidscottwills]

Looking forward to these videos! I've been interested in the Harvard Classics for a while and can't wait to dive into them with you. It would be cool to find copies and read along - "Cedar Ota Book Club"

[@The_Cause]

There are a good many sets on Facebook market place. I picked mine up from a dude in Virginia for about $300 plus shipping. Now there is set 20 miles from me for sale for cheaper than what I paid. Haha so there out there.

[@larryhoover7389]

I would like to own a set someday but for now I will follow along on my Kindle, cost $1:99.

[@The_Cause]

The Kindle deal is amazing!! At a buck 99 it is literally available to anyone that has the time to go through them. keep a look out on Facebook Market place. Sometime people are literally just trying to get rid of them.

[@Hacksfrompast]

Congrats on 10k subs Rob! Well deserved 👏🏻

[@The_Cause]

Truly appreciate it brother!!

[@jdmregal]

I salute your efforts. Happy reading, learning, and discovering.

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much! I truly appreciate that. It has been a joyful journey so far. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!

[@danielhixon8209]

What you are onto here is SO important for the renewal that our culture desperately needs. You are right about screen time causing attention span contraction, too. Nicholas Carr wrote a good book called “The Shallows” that gets into the brain science of why that is. I’m also a product of Louisiana education, but had the benefit of a family of educators who were into the classics and liberal arts, and we had a Latin class at my high school (West Monroe), so I believe I got more than most, but like you I wish I had spent a bit more of my formative years reading Plato or Augustine and a bit less playing “Command and Conquer”. Do you guys have a coffee shop in Denham Springs, or are you strictly producing it? I have family in that area and would love to drop in next time I’m down there.

[@The_Cause]

I am going to have to look that book up and check it out. I do not have a coffee shop in Denham but I have a small roaster by my house that I shoot all these videos in as well. It is half coffee, half books, and heaven to someone who loves both. haha If you are ever down my way hit me up.

[@JRCSalter]

I've been slowly making my way through these books for some time now. Currently in the middle of the third volume. I downloaded the pdfs of the complete set and read them for about 15 mins a day on my kindle. Would be nice to have a complete physical set, but that would require more money than I currently have.

[@The_Cause]

I found my set on FB Marketplace and paid $375. I am sure if I would of waited longer I could have found them a bit cheaper but ya the whole set is kind of expensive. I think this set was meant to be read in small intervals every day for years. It allows the material to sink in and get absorbed into your daily living. Thanks for watching my friend!

[@LifeLessonsFromBooks]

Looking forward to what you share and learn through these wonderful classics. A wonderful goal! (I agree with what you say about the phone).

[@The_Cause]

Yes indeed! It has been such a joy to read through and make these. It’s a little slice of peace out of this chaotic world and it has helped me put the phone down. Truly appreciate a fellow tuber stopping by and checking out my channel! Stay blessed and have a great weekend.

[@LifeLessonsFromBooks]

Thank you all the best with your reading and ideas of what books I need to be reading more. @@The_Cause

[@jc5852]

Just discovered your channel and subscribed. I have an incomplete set and have been looking for the missing books to complete it. Have read some but curious about the others. Thank you!

[@The_Cause]

Well welcome aboard my friend! There are always volumes being sold on FB market place. You may can find the last ones in there that you are missing. Thanks for watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@sitrakaforler8696]

Well done for having the curiosity to learn. It's that curiosity that helps. The government can't do everything. What's more, the government is always trying to save money and avoid offending people. Finally, I think you're forgetting that the desires of 30 children in a class are not always the same. Maybe more than half the children would have hated being forced to read these books :) All the same, the system and internet allowed you to be curious enough to read these books ;)

[@The_Cause]

Thanks so much! And yes, I think 30 kids in a classroom is def an issue we face today as well as wasting money on non school related issue. I also think the internet can be amazing if used correctly. Thanks so much for watching my friend and stay blessed!

[@jondrive8801]

Here in the Uk. Feel exactley the same brother

[@The_Cause]

Which is very sad. The short time I spent in Edinburgh showed me what tradition can look like and I truly hope you all do not lose that. So much has came from England in the form of great literature. Hoping that does not stop. Thanks for watching and stay blessed my friend!

[@RachelJ2016]

Wow! KZbin’s algorithm is scary accurate sometimes 😂 I am on this **exact** journey myself. Word for word, almost. I just don’t have this beautiful set of Harvard classics to study from but I am curating a slightly different list of books. I will add these to my list to collect in the near future! This really is a fantastic idea for a video series and I’m so glad you decided to share. I’m pulling back on all forms of social media, except for beneficial videos like this. So thank you 🙏🏻

[@The_Cause]

That’s so awesome to hear. It is nice to know that others feel the same way. It’s has been a very enjoyable journey so far and reading through the classics is definitely starting to change the way I think and even my behaviors. It’s hard to completely remove social media from your life but for me even elimination 75% has been impactful. I hope you find a similar joy along your journey and thanks so much for watching! Stay blessed!

[@davidgray5570]

I"ve also started reading the Harvard Classics and look forward to watching your videos.

[@The_Cause]

Nice! I really hope you enjoy them and have a blessed new year!

[@AndrewRayGorman]

Honestly, as a secular person, I am moving towards wanting to do homeschooling for my future children. I used to be a public school teacher, and because the misbehaving ia getting worse and more numerous, it is setting back so many kids from their potential. Private, charter, or homeschool. Public schools in America have failed.

[@The_Cause]

I think homeschooling is great even in a secular setting. The religious aspect is important to some and I completely understand that but an education based around the classics to teach kids how to think, debate, and communicate seems to be undermined in our public school system. I think Mark Twain had a quip, he never let schooling interfere with education. Fixing a problem like education will take decades sadly and taking that control back on an individual basis is about the only way to ensure your kids are not consumed by the system. Thanks so much for watching and I truly hope you stay blessed!

[@judegrindvoll8467]

This is going to make me sound like a very ignorant Brit, but I thought the US had to keep religion out of schools due to separation of church and state? Is that not the case?

[@Angel-uj3bk]

@@judegrindvoll8467 American here. AFAIK, separation of church and state applies to public schools here. Free education. Private/charter aren’t controlled by the state (tax dollars, government) so there are many secular schools here. Growing up I went to a private Lutheran school, and we had weekly chapel on Wednesdays.

[@judegrindvoll8467]

@@Angel-uj3bk Wow that’s really interesting. I went to an ordinary state primary (elementary) school and we had hymns and prayers DAILY 🤣 l can’t imagine how much religion the catholic and Protestant kids were getting. Funnily enough about 49% of Brits are atheists so religion in schools seems to be having the opposite of its intended effect 😆

[@chrisw6164]

It’s hard to read the classics, and a lot of it has to do with the distractions that’s in our lives these days. If you want to read classics or “difficult” books, you can do it. Set aside 1 hour per day (or any other set amount of time) and take it slow. You’ll be surprised how much of it you can read and absorb over the course of a year.

[@The_Cause]

I have put this into action and it seems to be working. I have to do it super early though or life will pull me away from it. Truly appreciate you watching and for the kind advice! Stay blessed and have a great week!

[@chrisw6164]

@@The_Cause No problem, wasn’t advice to you, just something general for the people reading the comments. There’s no shame if somebody only has time for ten pages a day, that’s 3000+ pages a year 👍

[@The_Cause]

That’s a great way to think of it. 3000 pages is a lot! Consistency is the key. Thanks again brother!

[@williamarbaugh6704]

I am so glad to see someone else taking on the Harvard Five Foot Bookshelf. It's a LOT, but I always come back from every effort into them changed. It's hard not to believe that we are deliberately kept away from this style of education even in College. Props to you, sir, and I look forward to following your journey while I'm on my own. :).

[@The_Cause]

Happy to have you aboard my friend! It’ has been an enjoyable endeavor thus far and I can already tell my mind is starting to shift and think of things a little differently. Truly appreciate you watching and best of luck on your journey as well. Stay blessed!

[@williamarbaugh6704]

@@The_Cause out of curiosity, are you aware of any groups that are trying to read the HFFBS together or online groups discussing them?

[@The_Cause]

@@williamarbaugh6704 I am not aware of any. I can only imagine there have to be some book clubs out there that are reading them. One of the individuals in the comments on one of my videos mentioned a couple of buddies reading the Harvard classics together and they are a couple years into it. I would eventually like to start something like that maybe next year. I would love to devote more time and energy to this channel but sadly my real job, life, family, and coffee business keep me from doing so. I am loving this little community though and I can't wait to get a little more organized with it in 2024. I will keep an eye out if any clubs or people hit me up and try and let you know.

[@Julia29853]

Read some of John Taylor Gatto’s books, like “Dumbing us Down”. He was a firmer NYC teacher of the year who became so frustrated with the puckic school system. He researched and realized it is a purposeful dumbing down of our society, (easier to control uneducated, undisciplined peasants) and its only gotten much much worse.

[@defnlife1683]

I feel that it's the same thing everywhere. We've lost a lot thanks to agendas. Even in computer science, the early innovators, like Ken Thompson, or even Steve Wozniak were able to build languages and operating systems, work in binary or machine code... most programmers lost that. I think this is great and I think this is important. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@The_Cause]

Truly appreciate your support my friend and thanks so much for tuning in! Stay blessed!