Philosopher at Large: An Intellectual Autobiography, 1902-1976 [Paperback]

Mortimer J. Adler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 1992

In this book, first published by Macmillan in 1977, Mortimer J. Adler, author of "Ten Philosophical Mistakes", "How to Read a Book" and "Aristotle for Everybody", provides a chronicle of more than 50 years of his achievement in the fields of education and publishing. He discusses the development of one of the great publishing ventures of the century - the 54-volume set of "Great Books of the Western World" - and he details the planning and production of the 15th edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica". This book describes the career of a man who sought to bring books to the layman and engage all readers in philosophical thought and debate. It recounts a wide variety of personal and intellectual encounters and ranges from academia to the world of business.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Scribner Paper Fiction; 1st edition (October 7, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020010117
• ISBN-13: 978-0020010111
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mortimer Jerome Adler (December 28, 1902 - June 28, 2001) was an American philosopher, educator, and popular author. As a philosopher he worked within the Aristotelian and Thomistic traditions. He lived for the longest stretches in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and San Mateo. He worked for Columbia University, the University of Chicago, Encyclopædia Britannica, and Adler's own Institute for Philosophical Research. Adler was married twice and had four children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highlights from a Long Career, May 13, 2001

By 

Thomas Stamper (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Philosopher at Large: An Intellectual Autobiography, 1902-1976 (Paperback)

Mortimer Adler may be our greatest living philosopher. Born in 1903, Adler worked his way from humble origins to academic achievements reached by few. He quit school in his teens and became a copy boy on a New York newspaper. He would later find his way into the Ivy League, attending Columbia University where we studied and later taught. He quickly championed the liberal arts education. He believes that students who have a well-balanced education become more productive private citizens.

His endorsement of the classical studies led to his teaching the of Great Books of the Western World, which he thought was the best avenue to a well-rounded education. If you own a set of Encyclopedia Britannica's Great Books of the Western World, you'll see Adler's name as associate editor. He wrote both volumes of the Great Ideas syntopicon that begin the series.

This book centers on the professional, rather than the personal, more so than the average autobiography. It's quite philosophical. Adler makes you think about different propositions as he reveals his discovery of certain knowledge. He's quick to point out his mistakes of youth, and he shares many stories of how his own lack of tact alienated him from his colleagues and other important people. He's mellowed much with age and has become more and more respected within his field. It's a very honest recap of a long and productive life. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in philosophy, the great books, or liberal arts education.