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Welcome to another segment of New Ideas for Mother Academia! The purpose of this series is to share five ideas for women to dig deeper into their continued education. I especially like to seek out free resources because I want to prove that you can seek out wisdom without having to spend any money. I hope you’ll share what you’ve been reading and learning too!
1 // LOOKING AT NUCLEAR WAR
Living at the Nuclear Brink: Yesterday and Today is a ten week self-paced course from Stanford. This topic seems more important by the day! The professor’s goal is “to warn you of the dangers you face and to give you some insight on what could be done to avoid those dangers.”
2 // THE POETRY OF EARLY NEW ENGLAND
How about diving deep into some poetry? The Poetry of Early New England is a course that doesn’t seem to be viewable, but the reading list is still available and very helpful. They also include a great list of resources to dig even deeper into this time period.
3 // FULTON SHEEN
The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen is a three-part video series from Pursuit of Wisdom courses at Ave Maria University. From the blurb: “Join Dr. James Patterson in a captivating online video course exploring the life and teachings of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, a trailblazer in Catholic media. Embark on a journey to understand Sheen’s dynamic perspective and gain refreshing insights into his impact on faith, society, and personal growth. Learn how Archbishop Sheen’s groundwork in Catholic media communication laid the foundation for future spiritual leaders. Under Dr. Patterson’s guidance, discover Archbishop Sheen’s enduring wisdom and its relevance in today’s world.” I have read Sheen’s Life of Christ, Communism and the Conscience of the West, and Treasure in Clay and all have been excellent.
4 // A MENSA-APPROVED READING LIST
Mensa for Kids has compiled multiple reading lists for various ages. A good place for women to start might be the Grades 9-12 list, which has titles like:
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
5 // THE PHILOSOPHY OF SHAKESPEARE
Let’s end today’s list with a little Shakespeare! I found an interesting three lecture series on the Philosophy of William Shakespeare from Paul Krause at Discourses on Minerva. He will discuss “the philosophy and theology embedded in the plays of William Shakespeare. In particular, we look at Shakespeare’s political philosophy, his philosophy of love and war (and politics), and his theology of love.” Sounds intriguing.
I love your reading lists! You have such a wide interest. I recently found out my favorite college professor recorded a ton of lectures on Shakespeare for homeschool connections. I’m really excited to dig into those and see what i remember (or forgot) in the last 20 years. We are getting a subscription to that for our 4th grader. Dr Henry Russell, if you want to look him up. One of the best and most unique Shakespeare scholars out there. Sitting in his class was often like watching the plays as he acted them out.
I will look into Dr. Russell, thank you!! There’s something so special about a passionate teacher/professor.