TOPICS OFFERED FOR
FALL 2013
Please note that the
books listed for each course are only possible
candidates.
Do not buy any until the pre-meeting and a decision on the
common reading is made.
Classes start
September 3rd and end December 31st.
Holiday periods are
adapted to by individual class voting.
1. (AMG) AMERICAN GRACE
In this
class we will explore the role of religion in private and
civic American life today. This country is unique in being
deeply religious, religiously diverse, and remarkably
tolerant. And yet many of us decry (some applaud) our
plurality in religious family life, and the trend toward an
avowedly secular yet spiritual life.
Based
on two of the most comprehensive surveys ever conducted on
religion and public life in America, this book examines the
survey statistics and
reports on congregational life in different communities and
the causal cultural shifts affecting that life. Our research
and class discussions will focus on: the 1960’s sexual
liberation; the growth of conservative, evangelical politics;
the rise of feminism in the pews; liberal attitudes about
premarital sex and homosexuality; and the increasing number of
“Nones” – those claiming no
institutional religious affiliation whatsoever (19.6% of us). There are many
possible topics for presentations in this book, including:
changing sexual attitudes, the impact of feminism on
traditional religious denominations, the rise of religious
right, and unusual religious cults. In sum we will examine why religion often
separates us and how interfaith movements can unite us by
showing how people of different faiths can happily work
together, live together and even marry partners of a different
(or no) faith.
Common Reading: American Grace: How
Religion Divides and Unites Us by Robert Putnam
and David Campbell (2012)
2. (AOM)
THE ASCENT OF MONEY
For millions of
people, the recession has generated a thirst for knowledge
about how our global economic system really works, especially
when so many financial experts seem to be equally baffled. In
this S/DG we will consider the world’s financial history using
the book Ascent of Money by economist and historian Niall
Ferguson. He
offers insight into these questions by taking viewers
step-by-step through the milestones of financial history that
created this system, visiting the locations where key events
took place and poring over actual ledgers and documents — such
as the first publicly traded share of a company — that would
change human history. Ferguson maintains that the history of
money is indeed at the core of our human history, with
economic strength determining political dominance, wars fought
to create wealth and individual financial barons determining
the fates of millions.
Through this history
viewers learn economic fundamentals on subjects such as
sub-prime mortgages and credit default swaps, real estate
bubbles and how the Chinese economy has risen to a powerful
place in the financial world.
There are numerous
topics for presentations, such as:
·
Would mankind really be crucified on a cross of
gold? William
Jennings Bryan talked of the “trickle down” theory ‘way back
in 1896. What
are the pros and cons of a gold standard in today’s world?
·
How have New York and London become world
financial centers?
·
Should CEOs be held criminally responsible for
misrepresenting the financial instruments that they sell,
considering their ramifications?
·
Should the Fed micromanage the economy on a
daily basis instead of trying to correct it once or twice a
year?
·
The history of financial families like the
Medicis and the Rothchilds, and how they became banking
dynasties.
·
The history of sovereign debt defaults.
Common Reading: The Ascent of Money: A
Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson
(October 2009)
3. (ART) ART IN
A NUTSHELL
This is an art appreciation class
for people who like to know a little something about
everything. Using the text below, we will dip into all areas
of the art world, including topics such as: Art Techniques, Philosophy
of Art, Art Through the Ages, Famous Artists, Museums, Art
Around the World, Paleolithic Art, Artistic Oddities, Art
Curators, and Thailand’s Painting Elephants.
To enhance the class experience,
participants may wish to bring in news clippings about current
art related events, invite guest speakers or visit a local art
museum.
Possible Presentation topics:
·
Leonardo da
Vinci
·
The Psychology of Color
·
Art in the Catholic Church
·
The Factory of Andy Warhol
·
Los Angeles Murals
·
Use of Art in Advertising
Common Reading: The Daily Book of Art: 365
readings that Teach, Inspire & Entertain by Colin Gilbert, Dylan Gilbert
& Elizabeth Gilbert (October 2009)
4. (BAN)
THE BEST AMERICAN NOIR OF THE LAST HUNDRED
YEARS
For the Fall
trimester enjoy a short story class that looks at the best
American noir (slightly dark writing) of the last hundred
years. "Noir" is, in a word, offers the best example of the
nightmare of flawed souls with big dreams and how and why the
all-time sure thing goes bad. . The collected stories are
arranged chronologically, beginning with a 1923 piece from Tod Robbins (whose story was the
inspiration for Tod Browning's classic horror film
FREAKS), and ending with a 2007 entry from Lorenzo Carcaterra. There is a strong emphasis
on recent noir (the 30s get one entry, the 60s and 70s two),
but everything ultimately balances out, and you'll have a hard
time telling which stories come from which decades (except for
the fact that they're clearly labeled as such).
Many of the expected names are here:
Ellroy himself; James M. Cain;
Mickey Spillane; Patricia Highsmith;
James Lee Burke; Dennis Lehane;
Joyce Carol Oates (who manages to appear in every collection
of every genre, somehow); Lawrence Block; Elmore Leonard. We
get a nice little horror story from David Morell, a sci-fi story from Harlan
Ellison, and a straight-noir piece from horror author Ed
Gorman. If this sounds like an eclectic
collection (and it is) that's because Ellroy
and Penzler are working from a
certain definition of noir. They draw a distinct line
between "noir" and "detective" fiction, insisting that noir's
Hollywood counterpart (film noir) isn't representative of the
literature itself (thus, no Dashiell
Hammett). It still leaves enough room for pieces that push the
boundary, though, and the result is a collection aimed to
please. These are hard-hitting stories that star characters
with few redeeming features; these stories are dark and
twisted, violent and obsessive. They'll scare you, they'll
thrill you,.
Common Reading: The Best American Noir of the
Century edited by
James Elroy and Otto Penzler
5. (BEL)
THE
IDEA FACTORY: BELL LABS AND THE GREAT AGE OF
AMERICAN
INNOVATION
Bell Laboratories, which thrived
from the 1920s to the 1980s, was the most innovative and
productive institution of the twentieth century. At its peak, Bell
Labs employed nearly fifteen thousand people, twelve-hundred of whom had PhDs. (Thirteen would go on
to win Nobel prizes). It
was a citadel of science and scholarship as well as a hotbed
of creative thinking. This
S/DG examines the unique magic of Bell Labs through the eyes
and actions of its scientists. We'll follow these ingenious, often eccentric men, as they invent
radio astronomy, ride unicycles through the corridors, and
pioneer the principles that propel today's technology. We'll learn how
radar came to be, and lasers, transistors, satellites, mobile
phones, and much more. Aside
from discussing the amazing scientific advancements of Bell
Labs, we plan to explore these intriguing questions:
What are the principles of
innovation? How
do new technology and new ideas begin? Are some environments
more favorable than others? How
should they be structured, and how should they be governed? Can strokes of genius
be accelerated, replicated, standardized?
Common Reading:
The Idea Factory:
Bell Labs and the Great Age of American
Innovation, by Jon Gertner
(2012)
6. (BYZ) SAILING FROM
BYZANTIUM
Based on the book of the same title,
which is a fascinating account of how the Byzantine Empire
influenced three nearby civilizations. Byzantine scholars
established academies in pre-Renaissance Italy, which taught
Greek and re-introduced lost classical learning, and this in
turn helped to kick-start the Italian Renaissance. Byzantine
missionaries traveled throughout the Slavic lands, especially
Bulgaria and Russia, and developed the Cyrillic alphabet to
increase literacy and learning to the Slavs. Byzantium shared
Greek science and philosophy with the nearby Muslim
civilization, which enriched their own medieval renaissance. Unfortunately we in
the West aren’t taught much about the gifts of Byzantium; this
book helps to correct this deficiency.
This book offers numerous possible
presentation topics, including the adventures of two Byzantine
monks with the Slavs, the Greek academies established on the
east coast of Italy, the preservation of the classical Greek
language, literature, and science in Byzantium, and the
complicated relationship of Byzantium with its Muslim
neighbors.
7. (DOC) THE DOCUMENTARY
MOVIE
Not long ago, if you
wanted to see a documentary film, you had to take a course, go
to a movie festival, or catch it on PBS. Nowadays we can
find documentaries on our TVs through the magic of the
Internet, Netflix and other on line sources or from our
libraries. While your basic Hollywood studio movie is
primarily made to make money, a documentary is the expression
of its creator's personal passion. This S/DG will explore the world of
modern masters of the documentary. Presenters will choose a film that class
members can view at home before each class session, and then
present for discussion whatever facets of the film they choose
– the contents or subject, the techniques, the background, the
directors focus on the subject, and its effect on public
opinion. Many
Omniloreans after taking this class have been amazed at the
diversity of what is available and how many of these films are
unexpectedly enriching.
No
Common Reading.
8. (DTH)
TALKING ABOUT
DEATH WON’T KILL YOU
Dr.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote her
landmark book, “On Death and Dying,” in 1969. More than 40 years
later we’re still uncomfortable talking about death. This
class will examine various aspects of the journey each of us
must take. We’ll begin by reading “Final Exam: A Surgeon’s
Reflections on Mortality.” The author, a transplant surgeon
and UCLA faculty member, recounts her own experiences with
death beginning with her days as a med student. She describes the
moral and psychological pressures on physicians and the need
for better training. From
there, the class will examine the process of dying from the
viewpoint of the patient and his family.
Possible presentation topics:
·
Cultural
Differences in Dealing with Death
·
Ethical
Concerns in Treating Terminal Illness
·
The
Journalistic Specialty of Obituary Writing
·
Hospice
Care
·
The
Funeral Industry in America
·
Religious
Beliefs About Death
Possible Common Reading:
Final
Exam: A Surgeon’s Reflections on Mortality, by
Pauline W. Chen (2007)
How
We Die,
by Sherwin B. Nuland (2008 ed.)
Final
Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and
Communications of the Dying,
by Maggie Callanan and Patricia
Kelley (2012 ed.)
9. (ENG) THE STORY OF ENGLISH
A work of profound scholarship and
powerful storytelling, Robert MacNeil’s
classic nine-part PBS series remains one of the great
narratives of linguistic studies. Steeped in history,
geography, sociology and political drama, The Story of
English has little to do with dictionaries, official
documents or highbrow literature. Rather, it is a tale of language used
for immediate needs – in street talk, popular entertainment,
war and trade – and it covers more than a millennium of
civilization’s ebb and flow.
Vividly capturing a sense of global dynamics, the
series traveled to 16 countries and across 5 continents as it
followed the evolutionary path of the first worldwide
language.
We will use the Third Revised
Edition of the companion book, which expands on the original
text, as the common reading.
S/DG members are also encouraged to watch the videos,
which are now available to be viewed online at no cost. Some of the many
possible topics for presentation include regional dialects and
accents, why English is so difficult for foreigners to learn,
how babies acquire language, and the history of the Oxford
English Dictionary (OED).
Common Reading: The
Story
of English: Third Revised Edition, by Robert McCrum, Robert MacNeil,
and William Cran (Dec. 31, 2002; 496 pages)
Supplementary
Material:
The Story of English, Programs 1-9
(1986), starring
John Barton and Peter Hall (9-part series, 58-59 minutes
each), available as 63 short You Tube videos at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6D54D1C7DAE31B36
10.
(EPI) THE EPIGENETICS REVOLUTION
Have you ever wondered if identical
twins are really identical? And if not, how and why are they
not identical? This is only one of the many, many biological
puzzles being illuminated and solved by the new science of epigenetics. Everyone has likely read,
or heard, the word ‘epigenetics’,
and wondered, “What are they talking about?” This SDG will
answer that question.
This new field of epigenetics is already a powerful tool
for investigating disease and inheritance. Each person has a
genome, his/her genes composed of DNA, and an epigenome, composed of molecules other
than DNA. Think of your genome as written in ink, and your epigenome written in pencil. Your
genome, or parts of it, is passed on from generation; your epigenome, or parts of it, can also be
passed on, but slowly the pencil markings get erased, but new
pencil markings will be added. Why and how?
Possible Presentation topics:
·
Why “Junk DNA” Isn’t Junk
·
New Info About Genetics and
Criminal Behavior
·
Cloning
·
Can Epigenetics
Fix Memory Problems?
·
The Role of the Big Drug
Companies in Genetic Research
·
How Gluttony and Famine Affect
Your Genes
Common Reading: The Epigenetics
Revolution: How Modern Biology is Rewriting Our
Understanding of Genetics, Disease and Inheritance, by Nessa Carey (March 2012)
11.
(EQU) GREAT EQUATIONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
“Equations are modeled on the
patterns we find in the world around us,” says Ian Stewart
(Emeritus Professor of Mathematics), “and it is through
equations that we are able to make sense of, and in turn
influence, our world.” This S/DG will explore each of the 17
equations in historical order as they are identified in the
recommended course book to understand not just the equation; but the historical context of its
discovery, the setting and application, the people involved,
and the legacy it created.
Several fields are covered in this book: physics,
engineering, mathematics, statistics, information theory,
chaos and economics where these seemingly basic equations have
enabled us to predict eclipses, engineer earthquake-proof
buildings, and invent the refrigerator. Possible discussion
topics include: expansion
of the personalities connected with the equations; current
major scientific projects like Higgs-Boson; scientific
discoveries that turned out poorly like cold fusion attempts;
status of education in the sciences; cutting edge developments
which would not be available without these 17 equations. This
is not a math or physics course, but a course for both those
trying to understand the basis of the world around us and those who want to refresh and
update their understanding of it.
Common Reading:
In Pursuit of
the Unknown, 17 Equations that Changed the World by Ian
Stewart (March 2012)
12.
(EUR)
THE HIDDEN EUROPE: EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
EASTERN
EUROPE
This course will continue an
interesting and fun look at the world of Eastern Europe. We will read
and discuss the second half of the common reading, covering
the southern part of eastern
Europe -- Montenegro through Ukraine and Russia. There is no
requirement to have studied the first half.
When people say that they're "going
to Europe," they're usually referring to Western Europe. But what about Eastern Europe? You
don’t really know Europe until you visit its mysterious
eastern side. By the way few countries actually admit to being
in Eastern Europe despite the obvious geography.
The author’s quest was simple:
explore every country in Eastern Europe from the Gulf of
Finland to the Black Sea. He saw them all in 2004 and then
returned in 2008 to revisit them to see what had changed. He
finally left in 2011 to share a side of Europe that few know.
Starting with Montenegro, you'll
move south as far as Greece, then northeast, ultimately to
Ukraine and Russia -- eleven countries and adventures spanning
several years!
The Hidden Europe is an entertaining
travelogue that also shares practical lessons that will impact
your day-to-day life. You’ll learn about today's Eastern
Europe along with understanding the complex history of this
fascinating region. Presentations could start with the book
and fill in in more detail the
virtually unknown countries that interest each member.
Throughout history these have been the center of Empires and
wars learn more about them and have a
good time learning.
You’ll also see how the locals live
and realize that they do some things better than most of the
world. You’ll understand why smart money and groundbreaking
tourists are flocking to this undiscovered territory. Best of
all, you won’t have to deal with the grumpy train ticket
vendors.
Common Reading: The Hidden Europe: What Eastern
Europeans Can Teach Us by Francis Tapon (April
28, 2012)
13. (GDR) GREAT DRAMATISTS
There continues to be
life after Shakespeare! Explore
the creations of other dramatists of western civilization. There will be no
designated text. Instead,
each participant will choose a playwright for presentation and
assign (ahead of time, of course), an easily accessible play
of the dramatist to be read by the group. Presentations will
include information on the playwright's life and how he
reflects the time period in which he wrote as well as a
summary/analysis of his major plays. A discussion of the
assigned play, led by the presenter, is also an important part
of each session. Participants
in the first two offerings of this group enthusiastically
requested another session; so many playwrights, so little
time!!! (Check
out the GDR folder on the website to read what went on in the
previous sessions.) This
one has a blank slate, with the rich possibilities -
Aristophanes or Moliere? Ibsen
or Shaw? Albee
or Pirandello? Chekhov
or Synge? O'Neill
or Miller? - What do the world's great playwrights have to say
about humanity? (Please
note:
this session is not performance-oriented; it is more a study
of drama as literature/art).
No Common Reading.
We live in a very dynamic age.
Worse, due to modern communications, we are informed of more
of what’s going on than we may want to know.
There are crucial areas of the world
where the future will be determined more than in other areas.
Egypt and Iran come to mind.
Robert D. Kaplan has written a book
arguing where the critical geographical areas will be in our
future. This S/DG will leverage off Kaplan’s book to try to
foresee what may happen in the near future and how we might
prepare for that. Examples
of possible presentations are:
geography complexities for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
India; sensibilities of the borders for Iraq, Iran, and Syria;
geographic boundaries for South American countries; borders
for the Balkan countries; national boundaries for the Muslim
countries that formerly were in the Soviet Union; border
difficulties for Poland; etc.
15. (H2O) DRINKING WATER’S
HISTORY
When we turn on the tap or twist
open a tall, cold plastic bottle, we might not give a second
thought to where our drinking water comes from. But how it
gets from the ground to the glass is far more complex than we
might think. With concerns over pollution and new technologies
like fracking, is it safe to
drink tap water? Should we feel guilty buying bottled water?
Is the water we drink vulnerable to terrorist attacks? With
springs running dry and reservoirs emptying, where is our
water going to come from in the future?
Both the history
of having drinking water and the environmental/political
concerns can be considered while using the book Drinking Water: A
History, by James Salzman
as a guide. Possible
presentation topics for this S/DG include: desalination;
chlorination; safety from chemicals; local or global scarcity
of water; agricultural uses of water; water-borne diseases;
water rights/ownership; and realities of bottled water.
Common Reading:
Drinking Water: A
History, by James Salzman
(November 2012)
16. (MOV)
HISTORY
ACCORDING TO THE MOVIES
This class will deal with films and
their historical accuracy. The recommended book draws on the
knowledge of 60 experts who examine the historical accuracy of
a splendid array of classic movies such as Julius Caesar,
Aguirre the Wrath of God, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Last of
the Mohicans, Gallipoli, and Gandhi. They reveal what each
movie has done right and wrong in portraying the complex
threads of the stories as known to the world's most qualified
scholars. These are movies that are available on DVDs. Watch
the movie at home and see if you agree with the expert. It
should be fun.
Nearly any of these essays will
start a lively discussion, but to add value, presentations
might consider: adding favorite movies not covered in the
book; combining single movies into genres (Swords and Sandals;
Westerns; Sports heroes), asking what a love interest does to
historical accuracy; whether or not documentaries are
superior; how to handle prehistoric material such as Quest for
Fire; and how stories of pure invention, such as The Name of
the Rose, may yet have historical value.
Common Reading:
Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies,
edited by Mark C. Carnes (1996)
17. (MUS) THE GREAT
AMERICAN MUSIC PEOPLE
Did
you ever wonder how or why a song or piece of music was
written? Why it became popular?
What influenced the composer/song writer? Was it
history? Was it love? Was it financial? A
Broadway play, a movie? Or was it just a composer’s
destiny? This
S/DG will study and discuss American composers from the second
half of the 20th century whose music contributed to modern
music history. Presentations
may be on any classical or popular composer/writers who
influenced American music, such as Aaron Copland, Ferde Grofe,
Andre Previn, Sammy Cahn, Johnny
Mercer, Marvin Hamlisch, Henry
Mancini, Duke Ellington, Burt Bachrach,
Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Stephen Sondheim, Carole King,
John Williams, John Cage, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and more.
Members are
encouraged to use cross-disciplines such as videos, excerpts
from feature films, audio, music history, literature, and
music analysis (why a melody has certain traits/what affects
the lyrics) in their presentations. If you just love
music or desire to know how history/lifestyle affected
American music composition, join this S/DG for a fascinating
experience for an inside look at famous music, musicians and
composers.
No Common Reading.
18. (POE) THE ELEMENTS OF POETRY
Poetry is an art form that speaks to our
minds and hearts. How
can so few words say so much? Many of us claim not to understand
it. We don’t
get it--especially contemporary poetry. In this course we
will learn the elements of poetry so that we can
understand and appreciate the works of the world’s great
poets. Although this course focuses on the elements of
poetry rather than on particular poets, we will use as
examples the works of many familiar poets including Emily
Dickenson, Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, John Keats,
Walt Whitman and Maya Angelou.
Participants are encouraged to bring
examples of poems that illustrate topics of study, and to
write their own poetry.
Poetry can be a very personal thing, and we aim to
appreciate rather than critique the uniqueness of each
individual’s poetic expression. We’ll have the opportunity
to read our works to others who appreciate and have a
passion for this art form.
The latest edition of the book is very
expensive so we will use a slightly earlier edition.
Please contact the coordinator for exact edition.
Possible presentation topics include
·
What distinguishes poetry from other
forms of literature?
·
How should poetry be read?
·
What is imagery and how is it used in
poetry?
·
Similes, metaphors and personification
·
Paradox, understatement, overstatement
and irony in poetry
·
Meaning beyond the literal details
·
Rhyming scheme, rhythm and meter
·
Biography and poems of a favorite poet
·
Comparison of styles of different poets
Common Reading: Perrine’s
Sound and Sense,
an Introduction to
Poetry by Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson (12th edition)
19. (PTR) PETER
THE
GREAT: CREATOR OF AN EMPIRE
Peter the Great transformed Russia
from a backward, medieval country into a European power. He
expanded Russian territory from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific
Ocean. He built a remarkable navy. He established and built
St. Petersburg on swampland; the city became the new Capital
of the Russian Empire, and it was as grand as any major city
in Europe. This course will not only examine the man and his
times but also set the stage by reviewing pertinent Russian
history, and then conclude with an examination of Peter’s
legacy.
Possible presentation
topics are Start of the Russian Navy, Founding of St.
Petersburg, The Great Northern War.
Common Reading:
Peter the Great, by Robert K.
Massie (1986)
20. (SHK) SHAKESPEARE: ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE …
The Omnilorean
New Globe Theater plans a September-December season featuring
3 of the Bard’s most popular plays. With players
standing and with a few props, we propose to do reading
walk-throughs of “Romeo and Juliet”
(Tragedy), “The Merchant of
Venice” (Comedy),
and “Richard III”
(History) — the
latter based on the historical king whose legacy is now
being seriously re-examined given the recent discovery of
his remains.
In this SDG you will
learn how to research all perspectives of Shakespeare’s works
— sources of each play
upon which the Bard builds rich characters and enhances the
plots, how to play each character “in character,” themes,
symbols, images, motifs, commentary on issues of the day, and
all manner of rhyme and
reason. Class members each serve on one play’s
Board of Directors, responsible for casting roles
for the repertory and leading discussions based on the
research — optionally adding
videos, music, and costumes.
For a glimpse of how we live the Bard in this S/DG,
check http://omnilore.org/members/Curriculum/SDGs/13a-SHK-Shakespeare/
to view the Winter-Spring Shakespeare class’s website of links
to references relevant to our plays and downloadable
organizing artifacts.
There are no
prerequisites, theatrical or otherwise. You will find that
the Bard of Stratford-on-Avon will teach us, just as he’s
taught others for four hundred years. With plenty for the novice as well
as the veteran, it is a foregone
conclusion members will leave this class with a fuller
understanding of the masterful story construction, realistic
characters with depth and humanity, and the rich, evocative
language which have earned William Shakespeare the title of
greatest writer in the English language.
Common Reading:
Selected Plays (a group purchase of a standard
edition of the books is being made — coordinator will then
sell to class members)
21. (SMT)
THIS WILL MAKE YOU SMARTER
This Will Make You
Smarter presents brilliant-but accessible-ideas to
answer "What scientific concept would improve everybody's
cognitive toolkit?" This is the question John Brockman,
publisher of Edge.org, posed to the world's most influential
thinkers. Their visionary answers flow from the frontiers of
psychology, philosophy, sociology, and more. Surprising and
enlightening, these insights will revolutionize the way you
think about you.
Daniel Kahneman on
"focusing Illusion", John Lehrer on controlling attention,
Richard Dawkins on experimentation, Aubrey De Grey on
conquering our fear of the unknown, Martin Seligman on
ingredients of well-being, Nicholas Carr on managing
"cognitive load", Steven Pinker of win-win negotiating, Daniel
C. Dennet on benefiting from cycles, Jaron Lanier on resisting
delusion, Frank Wilczek on the brain's hidden layers, Clay
Shirky on the "80/20 rule", Daniel Goleman on understanding
our connection to the natural world, V. S. Ramachandran on
paradigm shift, Matt Ridley on tapping collective
intelligence, John McWhorter on path dependence, Lisa Randal
on effective theorizing, Brian Eno on "ecological vision",
Richard Thaler on rooting out false concepts, J. Craig Venter
on multiple possible origins of life, Helen Fisher on
temperament, Sam Harris on the flow of thought, Lawrence
Krauss on living with uncertainty.
This study/discussion
group would focus on these great thinkers and their ideas
combining research and lively discussions by our great
Omnilore thinkers.
Common Reading: This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific
Concepts to Improve Your Thinking, edited by John Brockman (February
2012)
22. (TCH) TECHNOLOGY'S IMPACT
IN OUR LIVES
In the last 30 years, computers and
technology have changed how we live. We use the internet to communicate
through email, Skype, and social media; find things and places
with Wikipedia, Google maps, GPS; and amuse or educate
ourselves with researching topics, TED Talks or any number of
games. Computers
and technology have added much to our lives, but have we lost
anything in the process.
This S/DG would focus on both the
benefits and drawbacks of the increasing utilization of
computers and technology.
Sherry Turkle has been a
faculty member of MIT studying computer culture for the last
30 years and has authored her third book on the topic, Alone Together,
which looks at the interpersonal/social/psychological changes
associated with technology.
Possible presentations could look at the following: social media;
online game industry; changes over the 30 years; smart phones;
online education; genealogy searches; robots; automation in
cars; computerization in medicine; and uses to assistance
disabled individuals.
Common Reading:
Alone Together:
Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other,
by Sherry Turkle (2011)
23. (WSH)
GEORGE WASHINGTON
– THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OUR
FIRST PRESIDENT
What was it like being born in 1732,
growing up in the American colonies, and then becoming the
father of your country?
This S/DG will study the life of George Washington and
his accomplishments. His was a dominant personality in three
of the most critical events in the founding of the United
States: as winning general in our Revolutionary War, as the
presiding head over the Constitutional Convention, and as
leader of the first national administration – our first
Presidency. He kept together a rebellious, inexperienced
band of patriots to defeat the then largest superpower in
the world - always lacking sufficient funds from a Congress
that could often barely muster a quorum. He kept the course
presiding over a secret convention of Congressional
delegates that were committed to factions that needed to
compromise to accomplish their true purpose. He could have
become Emperor - but unlike many power-seeking presidents of
the past century – simply chose not to, retiring in beloved
obscurity to Mount Vernon. We will learn why they called him
"first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of
his countrymen.” The assigned text will be
supplemented by presentations on various aspects of his life
so that we may appreciate the interplay between the man and
the period. Topics
for presentation might include: Washington’s early life, his
experience in the French – Indian War, running Mount Vernon,
leading the Revolutionary War effort, His private life after
the War, his role in the Constitutional Convention, being
the 1st US president etc.
Common Reading: George
Washington, The Founding Father, by Paul
Johnson (2005)
24. (CSU)
CSUDH
FALL 2013
LECTURE SERIES
The Fall 2013 Osher Lecture Series
topic has yet to be determined.
The topic and topic lineup
for this series will either be printed in the Sept.-Oct.
2013 newsletter or sent as an e-mail
sometime in September.
If you are interested in the CSUDH
lecture series, let us know by placing an X in the
coordinator box next to the CSU topic, so we can have a list
of those to inform when more details become available about
the series. However,
do NOT enter it in the course "order of preference box"
along with your other S/DG topics.