Understanding Linguistics: The Science of Language

Journey through the fascinating terrain of linguistics: the scientific study of human language. In this exciting 36-lecture course taught by acclaimed linguist and Professor John McWhorter, investigate the elements and purposes of language, from its fundamental building blocks to its uses as a nuanced social tool. Among the many aspects and issues of language you explore are the basic sounds from which human language is built, why learning a second language can be so difficult, and how writing systems have evolved. Rich with insight, Understanding Linguistics: The Science of Language gives you a newfound appreciation for the mysterious machinery built into us all.

America and the New Global Economy

Join expert economist and award-winning Professor Timothy Taylor as he takes you through the last 50 years of world economic history. In the 36 lectures of America and the New Global Economy, travel beyond the economy of the United States and explore the recent history of economies in countries and regions such as China, India, the Middle East, and Latin America. Study international perspectives on the new global economy, focus on important economic issues ranging from international labor flows to population growth, and develop a deeper understanding of our increasingly interconnected economic world—and America's role within it.

America and the World: A Diplomatic History

How did the United States evolve from 13 colonies into the most powerful nation the world has ever known? How did this impressive change come about in less than two centuries? The answers to these questions are at the center of America and the World: A Diplomatic History. Award-winning Professor Mark Stoler shows you how the U.S. rose to the heights of geopolitical strength. Using the lens of foreign policy and diplomacy, get a fresh view of America's shift from the periphery of international politics to its very center and add layers of insight to your knowledge of history.

Western Literary Canon in Context

Explore how some of the most influential masterpieces of literature became part of the elite catalog of books known as the Western literary canon. In The Western Literary Canon in Context, you journey from the ancient world to the 20th century and investigate the literary and historical significance of works including the Odyssey, Beowulf, Moby-Dick, War and Peace, and Ulysses. Award-winning Professor John M. Bowers reveals to you the amazing dialogue that occurs among authors, civilizations, generations, genres, and literary styles in the Western canon. Above all, this insightful course will reshape your thoughts on the development of Western literature.

Mystical Tradition: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

While mysticism is often associated with Eastern religions, the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each have their own rich mystical traditions. With expert religious scholar Professor Luke Timothy Johnson as your guide, learn how mysticism forms a crucial—yet often overlooked—part of these three faiths. In 36 lectures, you investigate each monotheistic religion's wealth of spiritual teachers, practices, and literatures. Bringing together a range of academic disciplines, Mystical Tradition: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is an insightful examination of Western spirituality that offers you a greater understanding of this unique aspect of religious tradition.

Albert Einstein: Physicist, Philosopher, Humanitarian

Get an in-depth look at the life and work of Albert Einstein, undoubtedly one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century. Taught by Professor Don Howard of the University of Notre Dame, Albert Einstein: Physicist, Philosopher, Humanitarian examines Einstein's revolutionary innovations in physics, his philosophical reflections on the methods and foundations of science, and his public efforts championing a variety of social causes. By the end of these 24 lectures, you'll have become better acquainted with the whole Einstein—his scientific ideas, his personal philosophies, his thought processes, and his impact on both his time and ours.

Great Philosophical Debates: Free Will and Determinism

Are you in control of your destiny? Or are you fated to live and act a certain way? Make up your own mind with Great Philosophical Debates: Free Will and Determinism. Learn the intriguing details of this fundamental philosophical question in 24 fascinating lectures taught by Shaun Nichols, an award-winning professor of philosophy and cognitive science. Discover how history's greatest thinkers have puzzled over the debate between free will and determinism, explore how scientific methods have provided new insights into this problem, and learn how case studies can help answer ethical questions about this age-old conundrum.

Building Great Sentences: Exploring the Writer's Craft

Investigate the myriad ways we think about, talk about, and write sentences. In Building Great Sentences: Exploring the Writer's Craft, Professor Brooks Landon from the University of Iowa—one of the nation's top writing schools—shows you the pleasure in reading and writing great sentences. Explore the stylistic rewards (and risks) of various sentence forms, learn how to build and appreciate effective and elegant sentences, get unique insights into the nature of great writing—and discover how you can achieve some of this greatness yourself.

Chaos

Chaos theory—the study of the behavior of sensitive systems over time—affects nearly every field of human knowledge, from the arts to zoology. Journey with Cornell University Professor Steven Strogatz to the heart of this revolutionary field and discover new ways to think about the world. From the surprising tale of how chaos theory was discovered, to the ways it can help us solve mysteries like the nature of consciousness, Chaos gives you a solid introduction to a fascinating discipline that has more to do with your life than you may realize.

Comparative Religion

Explore the nature of faith with Comparative Religion, an in-depth look at how five great faiths address core issues—including creation stories, concepts of the divine, and ultimate goals—in parallel and different ways. These thought-provoking lectures are your opportunity to understand how Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism answer the numerous questions with which all religions must contend. At a time when religiously grounded issues are prevalent in our world, get the knowledge needed to view the world's faiths with what interfaith expert and Professor Charles Kimball calls "a native eye."

Masters of Greek Thought: Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle

The arguments of the Greek thinkers Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle represent daring leaps into some of the most profound and intellectually exciting concepts in philosophy. Challenge and satisfy your intellectual curiosity with Masters of Greek Thought: Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, an in-depth exploration of the dramatic turn in philosophical direction that began with these three philosophers. Award-winning Professor Robert C. Bartlett guides you through this astonishing era in the history of human thought—one that permanently altered our approach to the most important questions humanity can pose.

New Frontiers: Modern Perspectives on Our Solar System

A visually stunning investigation into what we know about the solar system today, New Frontiers: Modern Perspectives on Our Solar System shows you just how much more there is to uncover about our true place among the stars. Dr. Frank Summers, an astrophysicist and one of the nation's top astronomy educators, gives you an entirely new model with which to view the solar system. Take an unforgettable journey through the fascinating discoveries of our space-age solar system as revealed by detailed diagrams, amazing computer animations, and spectacular images from cutting-edge telescopes and unmanned spacecraft.

Masterpieces of Short Fiction

More than a shorter version of a novel, the short story is a unique and rewarding literary form in itself. In Masterpieces of Short Fiction, esteemed scholar and educator Dr. Michael Krasny takes you into 23 renowned short stories from iconic writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Ernest Hemingway. You explore how tales such as "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Killers" characterize the artistry and insight found in these miniature masterpieces. Travel into a world of imagination and gain an appreciation of how these great authors elevated the craft of storytelling into an art form whose impact can last a lifetime.