Philosopher at Large: An Intellectual Autobiography, 1902-1976

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.