Mortimer J. Adler

Mortimer J. Adler was an American philosopher, educator, and advocate of classical learning who spent much of his career promoting Great Books–based education. As a professor, editor, and public intellectual, he devoted his life to making philosophical ideas accessible to general audiences and to establishing structured methods for learning through reading.

Charles Van Doren, a writer, academic, and editor, collaborated closely with Adler on educational projects and shared his dedication to teaching critical thinking through literature. Together, they created a framework that has influenced generations of students, scholars, and self-taught learners, shaping the modern understanding of reading as an active and transformative intellectual discipline.