Books that Tell the Story of Western Civilization
The Honors College reading list is composed of great works from the history of Western civilization that are included in the Honors College reading list by consensus of the Honors College faculty.
Honors Scholars begin their studies in the ancient Greek world with Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey as well as foundational philosophical works from Plato and Aristotle. They continue their reading journey through the Roman world, with Virgil’s epic poetry, Stoic philosophy, and the testimonials of the early Christian church. The reading list then moves into the vibrant medieval and Renaissance era, where Honors Scholars encounter Arthurian legends, Dante’s Comedy, Julian’s Revelations, and the Reformers Luther and Calvin. After reading through works from the Renaissance and Reformation, Honors Scholars move on to the Enlightenment and early modern periods, where they encounter works by Shakespeare, Descartes, and the American founding fathers. From there, Honors Scholars explore the the last two hundred years through great works by Tolstoy, Eliot, King, Lewis, and others before concluding with a semester on the grand story of scripture: The final course in the Honors College provides an overview of the Christian scriptures from Genesis through Revelation, along with great works of literature and philosophy—such as Tolkien’s Silmarillion, Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, and Leibniz’s Theodicy—that expound its goodness, truth, and beauty .
In addition to the written word, HCU Honors College students study great works of visual art in their Honors Art course as they develop their own artistic skill, and they explore the foundations of modern science in their Honors Laboratory course.
See below for the full list of works read in the Honors College.
