Discusses the selection of works for and purpose of the set "Great Books of the Western World" and provides tools for use with the set, including author-to-idea and idea-to-author indexes and a ten-year reading list.

Includes index.

Of Great Books of the Western World -- A chronology of great authors -- The great conversation revisted / Mortimer J. Adler -- The contributions of the 20th century / Clifton Fadiman -- The great conversation (excerpts), / Robert M. Hutchins -- Suggestions to readers of the Great Books -- The author-to-author index -- The author-to-idea index -- Ten years of reading in the Great Books -- The great ideas.