This book rediscovers a traditional mode of knowledge that remains viable today. Contrasted to the academic and cultural fads often based on the sc...
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Jun 10, 2009
Debbie
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My husband and I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Taylor and take him to dinner several years ago (1998 or 1999) when he was in Denver for a Catholic homeschooling conference.
We had a marvelous evening and learned so much from this man, who attended the Integrated Humanities Program at the University of Kansas which was a hotbed for Catholic conversions and making monks (dozens at Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma and the Abbey of Fontgombault in France), priests (Fr. James Jackson, More...
We had a marvelous evening and learned so much from this man, who attended the Integrated Humanities Program at the University of Kansas which was a hotbed for Catholic conversions and making monks (dozens at Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma and the Abbey of Fontgombault in France), priests (Fr. James Jackson, More...
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Jan 10, 2010
Dale
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This is an excellent book, and quite challenging compared to what I had been taught for many years.
Five high school teachers spent six weeks reading through and discussing it.
The author did a great job of showing historically how we have arrived at Cartesian learning in the West. He did less of a good job showing what the alternative would look like.
I had concerns as I read through the book. He says on page 131 that St. Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle were omi More...
Five high school teachers spent six weeks reading through and discussing it.
The author did a great job of showing historically how we have arrived at Cartesian learning in the West. He did less of a good job showing what the alternative would look like.
I had concerns as I read through the book. He says on page 131 that St. Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle were omi More...
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Dec 31, 2009
Jesse
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I just finished this book today and was thoroughly impressed throughout. The author is clear and concise and he cites all the right people: Augustine, Benedict, Aquinas, and Newman. It is a great look at education and the poetic mode of learning and teaching. Something long forgotten even in Christian School circles, and perhaps even in Classical circles too.
The last two chapters are the best: he applies the principles from earlier in the book to a real school that was around in the 1970s More...
The last two chapters are the best: he applies the principles from earlier in the book to a real school that was around in the 1970s More...
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Aug 20, 2011
Amy
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It's been quite a few years since I read it, but it was and is one of the most important books I have ever read, in terms of solidifying intensely my belief that beauty matters...beauty of schools, for example, and in particular. Lots of other stuff is in there, too.
I was fortunate to meet Dr. Taylor some years back when he spoke at a homeschooling conference. He is as kind and courtly in person as the way he writes in Poetic Knowledge.
I was fortunate to meet Dr. Taylor some years back when he spoke at a homeschooling conference. He is as kind and courtly in person as the way he writes in Poetic Knowledge.
Jun 24, 2010
Brandie
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Taylor opens the book by comparing two boys who are being asked about horses. One boy has a scientific book definition of horses, but has never been around them. The other boy has been around horses training and riding them, but does not know the scientific names or specific facts about them. The second boy has a more "poetic" intuitive knowledge. His argument is that specific deep factual knowledge should be reserved for much older students and poetic knowledge should be for younge
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Aug 20, 2009
James
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What follows is my summary of this book.
"The poetic mode of learning is a sensory-emotional experience of reality, a spontaneous act of the senses with the intellect, getting the learner inside of the object of experience. It occurs in a setting of leisure, initiated in wonder and leading to a love of reality. It was the traditional mode of learning among the ancients and medievals, but was largely discarded and replaced by the analytical/scientific mode by Descartes, Dewey, and other More...
"The poetic mode of learning is a sensory-emotional experience of reality, a spontaneous act of the senses with the intellect, getting the learner inside of the object of experience. It occurs in a setting of leisure, initiated in wonder and leading to a love of reality. It was the traditional mode of learning among the ancients and medievals, but was largely discarded and replaced by the analytical/scientific mode by Descartes, Dewey, and other More...
Oct 17, 2011
Brad
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Pretty good book. "Poetic" doesn't mean poems; it means actually doing stuff physically. I think the author gets too bogged down on philosophy in the middle of the book (which is ironic), but the last third gets practical again. This book is basically an introduction to the concept, so don't expect any detailed guidelines here. Personally, that's what I'd like to hear more about. Details...more thorough descriptions of what poetic education might look like.
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Aug 06, 2011
Mystie
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Own. Hosted an online book club to discuss this book started April 5th, 2011 at my blog: http://www.pelennorfields.com/mystie/poe...
Nov 26, 2010
TheRose
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Wonderful argument for the beauty of Classical Education that has been lost to us. Right up there with Climbing Parnassus!
Dec 16, 2009
Laura
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This was a fascinating account of the definition and history of this more experiential type of knowledge.
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