The Pursuit of Knowledge

delightfulmayhem's profile picture delightfulmayhem Host

5 participants (25 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Life is rarely boring when learning new things. The goal is to expand knowledge and gain a broader perspective. The challenge is simple: choose a different textbook to read each month on an interesting topic. Bonus: find ways to practice and apply newfound knowledge in everyday life. 
Any format and length of book counts - print, ebook, audio, digital, etc.

Challenge Books

All books added
Classical Mythology by Elizabeth Vandiver

Classical Mythology

The Great Courses: Western Literature

Elizabeth Vandiver

12 hours, 25 minutes • first pub 2000 (editions)

nonfiction history reference informative reflective slow-paced
How the Earth Works by Michael E. Wysession

How the Earth Works

The Great Courses

Michael E. Wysession

24 hours, 31 minutes • first pub 2019 (editions)

nonfiction science informative inspiring slow-paced
Great Mythologies of the World by Kathryn McClymond, Robert André LaFleur, Julius H. Bailey, Grant L. Voth

Great Mythologies of the World

The Great Courses

Kathryn McClymond, Robert André LaFleur, Julius H. Bailey, Grant L. Voth

32 hours • first pub 2015 (editions)

nonfiction history adventurous informative slow-paced
The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel by Erin Macdonald

The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel

The Great Courses

Erin Macdonald

3 hours, 59 minutes • first pub 2019 (editions)

nonfiction science adventurous slow-paced
10 Women Who Ruled the Renaissance by Joyce E. Salisbury

10 Women Who Ruled the Renaissance

The Great Courses

Joyce E. Salisbury

4 hours, 59 minutes • first pub 2020 (editions) user-added

nonfiction history challenging informative medium-paced
The Apocryphal Jesus by David Brakke

The Apocryphal Jesus

The Great Courses

David Brakke

12 hours, 32 minutes • first pub 2017 (editions)

nonfiction history religion challenging informative reflective medium-paced
The Ottoman Empire by Kenneth W. Harl

The Ottoman Empire

The Great Courses

Kenneth W. Harl

18 hours, 44 minutes • first pub 2017 (editions)

nonfiction history religion mysterious slow-paced
The Mongol Empire by Craig G. Benjamin

The Mongol Empire

The Great Courses

Craig G. Benjamin

12 hours • first pub 2020 (editions)

nonfiction history informative medium-paced
Language Families of the World by John McWhorter

Language Families of the World

The Great Courses

John McWhorter

15 hours, 54 minutes • first pub 2019 (editions)

nonfiction history informative fast-paced
Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization by Amanda H. Podany

Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization

The Great Courses

Amanda H. Podany

11 hours, 16 minutes • first pub 2018 (editions)

nonfiction history adventurous informative medium-paced