52^nd Annual Wachs Great Books Summer Institute at Colby College Waterville, Maine August 3 - 9, 2008

The Morality of Self

Spinoza Ethics, Part IV

Eliot Middlemarch

James The Art of Writing

Strachey Eminent Victorians

(General Gordon & Florence Nightingale)

Browning "Andrea Del Sarto" & "Fra Lippo Lippi"

Join us in our annual reading, discussion and friendship week at Colby College. In a Great Books Discussion, a group of readers share their understanding of a thought-provoking book in a well-conducted forum. We work to find a level of insight rarely achieved by reading by oneself. It is a time for readers who love to think and talk about the world’s great works, and who enjoy spending time with others who share that joy.

The Registration Fee of $525 covers your accommodations in a dormitory room (single or double), meals, discussions and books, as well as swimming, tennis, a film, group social activities, and a real Maine lobster bake. The cost for commuters (people who participate in group activities but live off-campus) is $250, and includes lunches and the lobster bake. Scholarships are available on a need basis. Registration deadline is July 1.

Application and Refunds: A deposit of $250 per person is required with application, $125 of which is refundable for cancellations before July 1. The balance is due at registration on August 3. We do not accept credit cards, so be prepared with a check or cash. We will send books and additional information upon receipt of your deposit. To register, complete the form below and send with your deposit of $250 per person to:

Great Books Summer Institute at Colby

824 Thomas Road

Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-1107

This year we will also offer an optional bus trip to Rockland, fee $25. (See other side.)

Direct any questions to Tom Beam at 215-836-2380, or FAX 215-836-7158,

or email agreatbook@aol.com.

APPLICATION (Make checks payable to Great Books Summer Institute)

Name (s)________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________

__________________________________ Zip_________________

Phone ( )____________________ E-mail _________________________

Rooming with ___________________________________________________

Rooming near (if possible) __________________________________________

[ ] We have included $25 per person for the bus trip

[ ] Need handicapped access

[ ] Need bed board

[ ] Prefer self-directed (leaderless) group

[ ] Have previous Great Books experience

What is it like to spend a week at the

Wachs Great Books Institute?

Have you ever closed a book after reading the last page and wished you had someone to discuss it with? Every summer, readers gather for one week at Colby College to discuss a set of works – some long, some short, sometimes including plays and poetry – and to enjoy the company of others who have at least these readings in common.

Participants live in the Colby dormitories, eat together in a dining room, and are assigned to discussion groups for the week. Formal discussions take place in the mornings, and follow the rules of the Great Books shared inquiry method. No outside sources are allowed so that all participants are on an equal basis and the emphasis is truly on the reader and the text. We mail books to participants soon after registration, and people are expected to have read the texts completely when they get to Colby. Most discussion groups have assigned leaders, who move from group to group during the week. A few very experienced participants opt for a “leaderless” group.

There are a wide variety of activities during the week, from an opening night orientation to a talent show (strictly voluntary), a lobster bake, a movie and impromptu sing-alongs. The world famous Art Museum will provide docent tours (signup at registration). The Great Books Institute takes over a social gathering place each night for the “Wachs Works”, our version of a friendly pub, named after our founder, Is Wachs. Here people socialize, play cards and just relax.

The food at Colby is good and plentiful. Living arrangements are plain but comfortable. Fans, phones, reading lights and bed boards are available. It is dormitory living, however, with no frills and no air conditioning. (Our Maine location means this usually is not a problem.) We have private bedrooms with shared bath facilities. All buildings are smoke-free. The school provides towels and bed linens. Arrangements can sometimes be made for people with special needs. The college has a great library, a fine art museum, a bookstore, tennis courts and first-class athletic facilities, as well as waterfront property at a nearby lake. For those without cars, rides with other participants are generally available.

Participants make their own travel arrangements. Many arrive by car, but there is air service to Portland and Bangor, with rental cars, buses and limousine service available from there. There is also a Greyhound bus terminal in Waterville.

People attending the Institute come from all walks of life. Many of them have come to Colby for decades, but there are also many newcomers every year. Everyone is welcome. The goal is shared inquiry, shared laughter, and shared experience. The results are often friendship, fun and sometimes even glimpses of the truth.

Want additional flyers or information on some other Great Books events?

Go to www.greatbooksdiscussionprograms.org.

Bus Trip to Rockland, Maine Wednesday, August 6^th Noon to 8pm

One on Maine’s largest fishing ports and also home of the Farnsworth Art Museum and The Wyeth Center. The main street district is a busy shopping area, with many excellent restaurants.

Please Reserve a seat / seats on the bus at $25 per person (Enclosed)

Name(s) ____________________________________________________________

The bus trip will include a box lunch, available as you board the bus at noon. You can visit the town and have dinner on your own.

The bus will board promptly at 8pm for the return to campus.