Imagine spending the summer walking the paths of Amherst College or Stanford University talking about Plato, Hemingway and Jefferson with distinguished professors and outstanding young people excited about literature and ideas;

... joining a discussion on Abraham Lincoln led by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, Emmy Award-winning journalist Chuck Scarborough and other Guest Discussion Leaders.

... enjoying a preview of college life on one of the most beautiful campuses in America under the supervision of our  caring and dedicated staff.

The Great Books Summer Program is an experience like no other in American education. For the past five years, the Great Books Summer Program has gathered exceptional middle and high school students from across the nation to read selections from the greatest works of literature, experience college-level discussions and seminars and enjoy summer fun with other literary-minded students. This summer, we’ll read from Shakespeare, Dante, Jefferson, Homer, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Jamaica Kincaid, George Orwell and others.

You can choose from two campus settings — Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts or Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Amherst College, founded in 1821, is widely regarded as one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the world. Stanford University opened its doors in 1891 and has been one of the most highly regarded American universities ever since.