As promised, this is the outline of a multi-part reading project that will continue through September.

To begin, I feel it is important to give some background on why I’m embarking on this project.  First, I believe it is important for every man to have a firm understanding of the classics of his culture.  Since the manosphere is broadly concerned with men’s issues, ranging from the political to the practical, a solid grounding in the political thought of the West seems as good as any place to start.  Furthermore, I was inspired by Moldbug’s idea of the “Antiversity“.  Thus, this could be considered the first course in a series of Great Books courses.

The second reason behind studying Great Books, is the practical.  Ryan Holiday’s excellent article on reading books above one’s level suggests that reading is a skill that separates leaders from the rest.  Scott H Young’s article on career advice applies here as well.  Most people won’t embark on a guided reading course outside of a college setting.  This means that those who do, will have ways of looking at the world few others outside of the official academy, will have.

Finally, the inspiration of Joseph Campbell, speaks to me.  While, I may not have 5 years of 9 hour reading days ahead of me, and neither will most of you, the idea of dedicating oneself to the greats of civilization is quite attractive.  So, let’s begin:

The First Course: Political Greats (To 1800)

  • The Republic – Plato
  • Politics – Aristotle
  • On Government – Cicero
  • Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
  • City of God – St. Augustine
  • Summa Theologica, Second Part – St. Aquinas
  • The Prince and The Discourses – Niccolo Machiavelli
  • Leviathan – Thomas Hobbes
  • Patriarcha – Robert Filmer
  • Second Treatise – John Locke
  • The Spirit of the Laws – Montesquieu
  • The Social Contract – Rousseau
  • Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers
  • Rights of Man and Common Sense – Thomas Paine
  • Reflections on the Revolution in France – Edmund Burke

Nota Bene: This course is primarily aimed at a general American audience, so I ask forgiveness to those readers outside of the Anglo-American political experience.  Also, I am opening comments on this article, so let me know if there are any works I have missed, or that you would like to see discussed.