How to Read a Book: The Art of Getting a Liberal Education
Best introduction to Adler's educational philosophy and Great Books approach.
Author guide
Mortimer J. Adler Books in Order
Mortimer Jerome Adler (1902–2001) was an American philosopher, educator, and author whose work focused on philosophy, education, law, politics, religion, and the Great Books tradition. He taught at Columbia University and the University of Chicago, directed the Institute for Philosophical Research, chaired the Encyclopaedia Britannica board, and helped develop the Great Books of the Western World and Paideia educational programs.
philosophyeducationpolitical philosophyethicsreligionlawautobiographysocial criticism
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Conditions of Philosophy: Its Checkered Past, Its Present Disorder, and Its Future Promise
Concise overview of Adler's conception of philosophy and its historical development.
Six Great Ideas: Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Liberty, Equality, Justice
Accessible introduction to the central moral and political ideas organizing his mature thought.
Read in order
Books by series
publisher-series · ongoing
The Aquinas Lectures
Annual philosophical lectures published by Marquette University Press.
- 2 St. Thomas and the GentilesAmazon ↗
Book 2 · book · 1938
trilogy · complete
The Paideia Trilogy
Adler's three-book proposal for reforming American education through liberal learning.
publisher-series · ongoing
A Guide to Effective Communication
Simon & Schuster series on practical communication and intellectual exchange.
- 1
How to Speak How to ListenAmazon ↗Book 1 · book · 1983
publisher-series · complete
The International Library of Psychology, Philosophy and Scientific Method
A monograph series published under the general editorship of C. K. Ogden by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.
- 1 DialecticAmazon ↗
Book unspecified · book · 1927
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Other (41)
- The Nature of Judicial Proof: An Inquiry into the Logical, Legal, and Empirical Aspects of the Law of EvidenceAmazon ↗
book · 1931
- DiagrammaticsAmazon ↗
book · 1932
- Art and Prudence: A Study in Practical PhilosophyAmazon ↗
book · 1937
- What Man Has Made of Man: A Study of the Consequences of Platonism and Positivism in PsychologyAmazon ↗
book · 1937
- The Philosophy and Science of Man: A Collection of Texts as a Foundation for Ethics and PoliticsAmazon ↗
book · 1940
- How to Read a Book: The Art of Getting a Liberal EducationAmazon ↗
book · 1940
- Problems for Thomists: The Problem of SpeciesAmazon ↗
book · 1940
- A Dialectic of Morals: Towards the Foundations of Political PhilosophyAmazon ↗
book · 1941
- How to Think About War and PeaceAmazon ↗
book · 1943
- The Revolution in EducationAmazon ↗
book · 1958
- The Capitalist ManifestoAmazon ↗
book · 1958
- The Idea of Freedom: A Dialectical Examination of the Idea of FreedomAmazon ↗
book · 1958
-
Great Ideas from the Great BooksAmazon ↗book · 1961
- The New Capitalists: A Proposal to Free Economic Growth from the Slavery of SavingsAmazon ↗
book · 1961
- The Conditions of Philosophy: Its Checkered Past, Its Present Disorder, and Its Future PromiseAmazon ↗
book · 1965
- The Difference of Man and the Difference It MakesAmazon ↗
book · 1967
- The Time of Our Lives: The Ethics of Common SenseAmazon ↗
book · 1970
- The Common Sense of PoliticsAmazon ↗
book · 1971
- The American TestamentAmazon ↗
book · 1975
- Some Questions About Language: A Theory of Human Discourse and Its ObjectsAmazon ↗
book · 1976
- Philosopher at Large: An Intellectual AutobiographyAmazon ↗
book · 1977
-
Aristotle for Everybody: Difficult Thought Made EasyAmazon ↗book · 1978
-
How to Think About God: A Guide for the 20th-Century PaganAmazon ↗book · 1980
- Six Great Ideas: Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Liberty, Equality, JusticeAmazon ↗
book · 1981
-
The Angels and UsAmazon ↗book · 1982
- A Vision of the Future: Twelve Ideas for a Better Life and a Better SocietyAmazon ↗
book · 1984
-
Ten Philosophical Mistakes: Basic Errors in Modern Thought—How They Came About, Their Consequences, and How to Avoid ThemAmazon ↗book · 1985
-
A Guidebook to Learning: For a Lifelong Pursuit of WisdomAmazon ↗book · 1986
- We Hold These Truths: Understanding the Ideas and Ideals of the ConstitutionAmazon ↗
book · 1987
- Intellect: Mind Over MatterAmazon ↗
book · 1990
- Truth in Religion: The Plurality of Religions and the Unity of TruthAmazon ↗
book · 1990
- Haves Without Have-Nots: Essays for the 21st Century on Democracy and SocialismAmazon ↗
book · 1991
-
Desires, Right & Wrong: The Ethics of EnoughAmazon ↗book · 1991
- A Second Look in the Rearview Mirror: Further Autobiographical Reflections of a Philosopher at LargeAmazon ↗
book · 1992
- The Great Ideas: A Lexicon of Western ThoughtAmazon ↗
book · 1992
- The Four Dimensions of Philosophy: Metaphysical, Moral, Objective, CategoricalAmazon ↗
book · 1993
- Art, the Arts, and the Great IdeasAmazon ↗
book · 1994
-
Adler's Philosophical Dictionary: 125 Key Terms for the Philosopher's LexiconAmazon ↗book · 1995
-
How to Think About the Great IdeasAmazon ↗book · 2000
- How to Prove There Is a GodAmazon ↗
book · 2011