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Have you ever closed a book after reading the last page and wished you had someone to discuss it with, someone who had also read it and was as eager as you to talk about what it had to say? Every summer, readers gather for one week at Colby College to discuss a set of works -- some long, some short, sometimes including plays and poetry – and to enjoy the company of others who have at least these readings in common.
Participants live in the Colby dormitories, eat together in a dining room. They are all assigned to discussion groups which are theirs for the week. Formal discussions take place in the mornings, and follow the rules of the Great Books shared inquiry method. No outside sources are allowed. People are expected to have read the texts at least once when they get to Colby. The emphasis is on the reader and the text. Most discussion groups have assigned leaders, who rotate so that you have a different leader every day. (A few experienced participants do request a "leaderless" group.). Informal discussions go on at meals, after tennis, and out at the lake. There is a wide variety of activities during the week, from a talent show (strictly voluntary), to a clambake, a movie, and sporadic sing-alongs. The Great Books Institute takes over a section of the Student Union each night for the "Wachs Works," our version of a neighborhood pub named after our founder, Isador Wachs. Here people meet to socialize, play cards, and just relax.
The food at Colby is good and plentiful. Living arrangements are plain but comfortable, with some amenities, such as fans or bedboards, available. All rooms have overhead lighting and Colby has a limited number of reading lamps available too. If you are driving, you might want to bring your own small reading/bedside lamp for your room. It is, however, dormitory living. Participants have private rooms with shared bath facilities; the school provides towels and linens. Special arrangements can sometimes be made for people with special needs.
We mail books to participants soon after registration. The College has a great library, art museum, and bookstore, as well as first-class athletic facilities, all of which are available for our use. The countryside is lovely and the College has facilities at a nearby lake. For those without cars, rides with other participants are generally available.
People attending the Institute come from all walks of life. Many of them have returned to Colby for decades, but there are also many newcomers every year. Everyone is welcome, and in discussion everyone is equal. The goal is shared inquiry, shared laughter and shared experience. The results are often friendship, fun and sometimes even glimpses of the truth.
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