The Dream of a Democratic Culture : Mortimer J. Adler and the Great Books Idea (Palgrave Studies in Cultural and Intellectual History)

This book presents a moderately revisionist history of the great books idea anchored in the following movements and struggles: fighting anti-intellectualism, advocating for the liberal arts, distributing cultural capital, and promoting a public philosophy, anchored in mid-century liberalism, that fostered a shared civic culture.