NOVA is a pioneering American science documentary series produced by WGBH Boston for PBS, debuting on March 3, 1974. Its goal from the outset has been to make the frontiers of science accessible, engaging, and accurate for general audiences, featuring major discoveries, scientific controversies, and technological achievements around the globe.

NOVA’s mission is to demystify complex scientific concepts, spark curiosity, and promote critical thinking by presenting authoritative and visually dynamic storytelling led by scientists and journalists.

Over 50+ seasons, NOVA has covered topics ranging from space exploration, physics, origins of life, earth sciences, archaeology, medicine, engineering, and artificial intelligence.

NOVA’s reputation for trust, storytelling, and visual innovation has secured its place as the longest-running, most-watched prime-time science series on American television and a global model for science communication.

This SDG would look at 2 top NOVA episodes every week.  

NOVA is a pioneering American science documentary series produced by WGBH Boston for PBS, debuting on March 3, 1974. Its goal from the outset has been to make the frontiers of science accessible, engaging, and accurate for general audiences, featuring major discoveries, scientific controversies, and technological achievements around the globe.

NOVA’s mission is to demystify complex scientific concepts, spark curiosity, and promote critical thinking by presenting authoritative and visually dynamic storytelling led by scientists and journalists.

Over 50+ seasons, NOVA has covered topics ranging from space exploration, physics, origins of life, earth sciences, archaeology, medicine, engineering, and artificial intelligence.

NOVA’s reputation for trust, storytelling, and visual innovation has secured its place as the longest-running, most-watched prime-time science series on American television and a global model for science communication.

This SDG would look at 2 top NOVA episodes every week.  

The core book is Golden State: The Making of California  by Los Angeles Times business writer, columnist and Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Hiltzik. Thanks to extensive research   the book provides  a definitive new history of California, brings a fresh critical eye, and uncovers an unvarnished truth.  In it he details the discovery of California, the many stories of the indigenous population, the colonization by Spain, the development of the Missions, Mexican Independence, the Bear Flag Revolt, the discovery of gold, the struggle over slavery, joining the United States, the domination by rail roads, Chinese exclusion,  the  water wars, the San Francisco earthquake and fire,  the Progressive Era, John Muir,  conservation, fossil fuel extraction,  the rise of Los Angeles, Japanese internment, WW II's impact,  Richard Nixon, Disneyland,    conservatism, Pat Brown,  Ronald Regan, the 60s,  the coming of La Raza, the Watts Rebellion, the rise of Big Tech,  growth and the California Dream. We will also view several films relevant to the topic including  The Grapes of Wrath, Chinatown, Milk,  Fruitvale Station,  and The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

This SDG will seek to understand the relationship between American Foreign Policy and the CIA in the 21st Century examining the good, the bad and the ugly.  The core book is Tim Weiner's The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century, which is based on-the-record interviews with six former CIA directors and scores of spies, station chiefs, and top operations officers. The Mission is the gripping and revelatory story of the modern CIA, from 9/11, to the covert operations in Afghanistan, the pivot to   Iraq, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Black sites, "enhanced interrogation techniques",  the killing of  Osama bin Laden, drone warfare, Russia's influence on US elections, the winding down of the War in Afghanistan, Russia's invasion of Ukraine,    the rise of China,  the relationship between the Agency and Presidents G. W. Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden and concluding with the Agency's own fight for survival under the current president. The Mission is Tim Weiner's epic successor to Legacy of Ashes, his National Book Award–winning classic about the CIA's first sixty years.  We will also view several films relevant to the topic, The Reluctant Fundamentalist,  Snowden, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Report. We will try to answer the question of what impact the Agency should have and will have on US Foreign Policy  in the future. 

Africa is the birthplace of humankind itself, yet little of its ancient and modern history is widely known. For many, the history of Africa has been dominated by the subjects of slavery, imperialism, and colonialism. This book is a relatively comprehensive history from the beginning of Africa, highlighting key chapters in its story, and told by Africans themselves. The author was born in Sudan and is president of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She was previously chair of the Royal African Society., recipient of the President's Medal of the British Academy, and an honorary fellow of her alma mater, St. Hilda's College, University of Oxford. She visited more than 30 African countries over seven years in pursuit of a first-hand experience of Africa's history from the perspective of Africans. 

Book is #1 in African History on Amazon. Zeinab Badawi’s remarkable new book lives up to her dependable standards of excellence. It takes the reader on an up-close-and-personal journey across this unique continent, seemingly holding your hand while uncovering extraordinary gems of truth as she allows previously untold stories to be heard -- Margaret Busby CBE. A fascinating, thought-provoking and entertaining romp through several thousand years of history . . . This book is for everyone not only in the sense that we are all, ultimately, from Africa, but also because it is highly readable -- Justin Marozzi * Sunday Times * A refreshing corrective to narratives imposed on the continent by others . . . Ambitious in scope . . . The very act of telling African history from an African perspective and by making this history accessible to a wide audience is an assertion of dignity and an invitation to learn more . . . As Badawi puts it: “I hope I have demonstrated that Africa has a history, that it is a fundamental part of our global story, and one that is worthy of greater attention and respect than it has so far received.” She most certainly has -- Simukai Chigdu * Guardian * An elegant and vibrant African history that will appeal to novices and experts alike. * Kirkus Review *  Badawi reclaims her home continent’s past . . . Researched across more than 30 countries, it brings dazzling civilisations of pre-colonial Africa vividly to life. A book that feels long-overdue . . . and wholly worth the wait * Vogue * Authoritative and compelling -- Sathnam Sanghera * BBC History magazine * In a world where western narratives have poorly chalked up Africa’s history to simply one of slavery and colonialism, Badawi heads out on a corrective journey. Visiting 30 of the continent’s countries and interviewing everyone from historians to anthropologists, this is an eye-opening book * i paper - Best New Books to Read in April * Both a tour d'horizon and a tour de force, marvellously readable and beautifully written. This is a book that should be read by anyone who is interested in Africa, by anyone who thinks they know all they need to know about Africa, and above all by anyone who has no interest in Africa at all. It will transform their views of the continent, its peoples and its histories. I cannot recommend it too strongly or praise it too highly -- Professor Sir David Cannadine Epic, magnificent, brilliant. Zeinab Badawi's soaring African history is as majestic, thrilling and vibrant as the continent of Africa itself. A moving personal journey, an investigation into the earliest years of human life, a powerful manifesto for historical research and national memory, this genius book - bursting with stories of incredible courage and determination, from battling empires, colonial fightback, ending the slave trade and forming nations - is a tour de force and entirely unforgettable -- Professor Kate Williams This is a book we have needed: a clear account of the fascinating history of Africa from an African perspective. I learned something on every page. It will leave everyone who reads it better informed and more thoughtful about the vast opportunity that can now be found in a continent we have often misunderstood -- William Hague One of the greatest strengths of this wonderful African History of Africa and what makes it so engaging is the way Zeinab Badawi narrates the great sweep of this continent’s rich history as a personal voyage of discovery, and in doing so is able to portray her feelings of the experience, be it touching humanity’s most ancient bones or venturing into the dungeons of slave castles -- Dr Kevin Shillington

Artists have long fascinated filmmakers, providing rich material for stories about passion, genius, and turmoil. The films we are going to watch depict their artistic journeys while offering insight into their struggles and triumphs bringing the world of art to life through figures like Vincent van Gogh, J.M.W. Turner, Margaret Keane, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Artemisia Gentileschi, Frida Kahlo, Johannes Vermeer, Christy Brown, Dora Carrington and Jackson Pollock. We will discuss themes and messages, how the film compares to the artist’s own life or work and what insights or lessons does the film offer about the creativity and the challenges of being an artist.

We will discuss a movie each week. The movies will be watched at home and there will be a discussion about the movie and the artist

The movies are available on Amazon Prime, youtube and Kanopy. Some have to be rented for a small fee.

There will be wikipedia links to some of the topics for discussion.

I hope you join us on this artistic journey.

Art on Screen: 10 Movies About Artists Worth Seeing

1. Lust for Life (1956)

This biographical movie goes through the adult life and notorious death of Van Gogh. It focuses on Van Gogh’s troubled life and frail mental health.

2. Mr Turner (2014)

J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851) was a controversial, eclectic, at times anarchic painter who has made an indelible mark on Romantic art. This movie explores the later years of the life of Turner (from 1828 onwards).

3. Big Eyes

Big Eyes tells the story of painter Margaret Keane (1927–2022). Margaret’s work, characterized by painting figures with oversized eyes, was commercially extremely successful. This was in good part thanks to cheap reproductions on different media, including prints and crockery.

4. Basquiat (1996)

This biographical drama is a fictionalized account of the rapid rise and fall of neo-expressionist American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988). It follows him from his early days as a struggling aspiring artist to the peak of his success. It shines a light on his tumultuous relationships and the heroin addiction that ultimately isolated him and led to his death in 1988 aged only 27.

5. Artemisia Gentileschi, warrior painter, 2020

This European collaboration is a biopic of Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1653), played by Italian actress Valentina Cervi. It paints a picture of her striving to become a painter while being ostracized by Church and society in 17th-century Rome

6. Frida (2002)

Speaking of trailblazing women, Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) is second to none. This biographical movie follows the private and public life of the Mexican surrealist artist, played by Salma Hayek.

 7.- Camile Claudel 1915 , 2013.   

Was a French sculptor known for her figurative works in bronze and marble. She died in relative obscurity. Later in the 20th century, she gained renewed attention and recognition for the originality and quality of her work.

8. My Left Foot (1989)

Easily the most acclaimed and awarded movie on this list, My Left Foot is based on the life of Irish artist Christy Brown (1932–1981). Brown was a writer and painter. He was affected by severe cerebral palsy, which meant he could only work using the toes of one foot. The movie follows the life of Brown and his maturation into an admired artist.

9. Pollock (2000)

This drama follows the life of American abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock (1912–1956). It shines a light on his troubled personality and struggles with alcohol addiction. It also tells the story of his marriage to painter Lee Krasner

10. Carrington (1995)

This is a biographical movie about the life of English painter Dora Carrington (1893–1932). She was most famously associated with the Bloomsbury Group, a group of artists and intellectuals whose works and ideas shaped the culture of 20th-century Britain.

Arthur Miller (1915-2005) was born in New York City in 1915 and studied at the University of Michigan. During his lifetime he was celebrated as the pre-eminent playwright of his generation and won numerous awards for his work including two New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards, two Emmy awards and three Tony Awards for his plays, as well as a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. His 1949 play Death of a Salesman was the first play to scoop all three major US awards: the New York Critics Circle Award, a Tony Award for Best Author and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In the history of postwar American art and politics, Arthur Miller casts a long shadow as a playwright of stunning range and power whose works held up a mirror to America and its shifting values. 

In this SDG we will read and discuss 15 of his plays chronologically going through his life, dissecting and analyzing each in depth.

This SDG will explore the innovations of modernist fiction through the short stories of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. We’ll examine themes of consciousness, social constraint, and epiphany—comparing Joyce’s vivid, gritty portraits of Dublin life with Woolf’s lyrical, rhythmic explorations of perception and memory.

Each session will pair selected stories to encourage conversation about narrative form and language. Though these works stand as literary landmarks, we’ll approach them as short stories to be read and enjoyed in their own right.

Whether you’re revisiting modernism or encountering it for the first time, this SDG will deepen your appreciation of these two literary giants and the artistry that shaped twentieth-century fiction.

The amount of computing power driving our digital world is growing faster than ever, with acceleration far beyond just chips getting more complex. It is driven by trends such as specialized chips like Nvidia’s graphics processing units and cloud computing services such as Amazon’s AWS that allow renting time on the fastest computer systems.

That huge acceleration in what computing systems can do will have a huge impact on humanity’s future. The deep neural networks of today’s AI were made possible when computing power became inexpensive enough to make them economically feasible. We’ve seen some of that impact with today’s AI providing major advances in areas such as cancer treatment. The generative AI that writes documents or computer code and creates images has particularly raised expectations. The book argues that the impact of generative AI, despite it inspiring huge investments, is over-stated and has serious limitations.

The impact will be found more productively in other improvements made possible by the increased computing power. One major development will be a major improvement in digital assistants such as Apple’s Siri that makes them indispensable and a major change in the way we interact with digital systems.

Growing computing power will drive changes in our lives, the economy, and society in general at a pace much faster than previous major innovations.

Henry James (1843-1916) is considered one of our finest storytellers.  According to the scholar F.R. Leavis:  “He belongs to the greatest tradition of the English novel, alongside Jane Austen and George Elliot.”  In this eleven week course we will cover four of James’s most popular novellas:  DAISY MILLER, THE ASPERN PAPERS, THE TURN OF THE SCREW, and THE BEAST  IN THE JUNGLE, as well as his novel WASHINGTON SQUARE.  In addition, on alternate weeks, we will discuss the films that have been based on these five works.  Here is a course that should be of interest to bibliophiles and cinephiles alike.  

Humanity's embrace of openness is the key to our success. The freedom to explore and exchange - whether it's goods, ideas or people - has led to stunning achievements in science, technology and culture. As a result, we live at a time of unprecedented wealth and opportunity. So why are we so intent on ruining it? From Stone Age hunter-gatherers to contemporary Chinese-American relations, our core book, Open by Johan Norberg, explores how across time and cultures, we have struggled with a constant tension between our yearning for co-operation and our profound need for belonging. Providing a bold new framework for understanding human history, Norberg examines why we're often uncomfortable with openness - but also why it is essential for progress. Part sweeping history and part polemic, we will follow a compelling case for why an open world with an open economy is worth fighting for more than ever.

Russians Among Us tells the stories of Russia's espionage efforts against the US—not from the end of the Cold War as most of us suspect but from the Bolshevik revolution to the present. They were not just background characters in history, either. They helped eliminate Trotsky with an ice ax (points for memorability, if not for subtlety). They warned Stalin about Hitler’s impending attack (he ignored them). They handed Stalin intelligence about the H-bomb before Truman knew the details (a genuine intelligence coup). Despite periods of diplomatic warming, Putin has never abandoned his illegals. He ordered the program revitalized in 2004, three years before his Munich speech signaled the return of Cold War tensions. While America was busy declaring the “end of history,” Russia was quietly training a new generation of agents to live among us.

Join this SDG for a lively discussion of the illegals program as well as consideration of the essential question: Were the illegals worth the considerable investment Russia poured into them?

Coordinator: Sheri Ross

Format: Zoom

Description

Science under siege (2025) by Michael E Mann and Peter Hotez, two eminent scientists, outlines the five most powerful forces threatening the essential protection science gives to our citizens and. to the  countries we support around the world and offers suggestions as how we can fight back.

The United States, which has been the world leader in science and medicine for decades , is plummeting in this regard as well as in numerous other areas. The efficacy of vaccination is being questioned by people who have been placed in positions of authority to do so although they are completely unqualified by training.

Funding for critical scientific and health care research is being withheld, and scientists are losing their jobs and having to relocate to other countries. Major health agencies such as at the NIH, CDC, and FDA are being dismantled, losing their authority, with leaders being fired. Scientists at these institutions as well as at many universities are having their research grants withheld. Important research on cancer, and cardiovascular disease among others is being placed on hold due to inadequate funding. 12 million people are losing their health insurance. Climate is being ignored as a health issue despite the prodigious damages caused by devastating fires and flooding.

The Supreme Court has contributed to the health care problems with their decision in Dodd Vs Jackson; a decision that did not even consider or mention the danger their decision posed to women's health, increasing the risk by 100 % of mortality with pregnancy versus abortions. With the “shadow docket” they have given cryptic decisions approving the President’s ability to fire thousands of experienced and skilled government employees in the health care realm.

The war raging in the Middle East has brought the topic of statelessness into international consciousness. This 10-week SDG delves into the background, history, and current status of two less frequently discussed stateless peoples: the Roma [Romani], (sometimes deprecatingly referred to as “Gypsies,”) and the Kurds, a cultural/ethnic group artificially dispersed among various nation states following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire post WWI. What happens to the language, customs, culture of a particular group when they do not inhabit a particular piece of property? Can their culture survive? We examine these and other related issues in Stateless: The Roma and the Kurds. (please note: no class May 20, June 24, July 15)

The war raging in the Middle East has brought the topic of statelessness into international consciousness. This 10-week SDG delves into the background, history, and current status of two less frequently discussed stateless peoples: the Roma [Romani], (sometimes deprecatingly referred to as “Gypsies,”) and the Kurds, a cultural/ethnic group artificially dispersed among various nation states following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire post WWI. What happens to the language, customs, culture of a particular group when they do not inhabit a particular piece of property? Can their culture survive? We examine these and other related issues in Stateless: The Roma and the Kurds. (please note: no class May 20, June 24, July 15)

The Art of Memoir

     This class will have two components: The first is writing personal stories based on prompts (e.g. decisions that have changed your life, your first love, what brings you joy). Each week you'll have a new writing prompt which you can read out loud the following week. As a general guide, your piece need not be more than 300 words or 1-page double spaced.

     The second component is reading a published memoir of your choice. You can select from the list on the course description or propose one of your own. The only rule is that it's written in 1st person and is true. Presentations will include background on your selected author and EXCERPTS from their memoir. Both will be provided to the class in advance.

     Personal writing will be shared at the beginning of each session, before engaging in the formal memoir discussion. No writing experience necessary, just an interest in learning how the stories of our lives can be transformed into the art of memoir.

TED Talks, begun in 1984, are short, engaging video presentations available on YouTube, that share ideas and knowledge on a wide range of engaging and relevant topics, including Technology, Entertainment, History, Design, Science, Business, Cultural and Global Issues. Video Talks are given by experts from a variety of fields, including scientists, researchers, historians, technologists, cultural influencers, educators, business leaders, artists, and designers.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. These ancient manuscripts date from approximately the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE and include biblical texts, non-biblical writings, and other Jewish literature.

These scrolls are invaluable. They contain the oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible texts, predating previously known copies by over a thousand years, and allow scholars to trace textual transmission and variants. The non-biblical materials provide unprecedented insight into Second Temple Judaism, revealing the diversity of Jewish thought and practice during this formative period. The Scrolls illuminate the religious landscape that gave birth to both rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. The Scrolls also reveal apocalyptic beliefs, messianic expectations, and communal practices that help contextualize the emergence of numerous traditions.

Studying and discussing the Dead Sea Scrolls will enhance our understanding of biblical interpretation, the development of Jewish law, the historical Jesus, our knowledge of ancient Judaism, and the evolution of Jewish and Christian traditions.

Our core book is JC VanderKam and P Flint, The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls . . . , a popular, readable, informative, comprehensive and well-regarded book that received an award for Best Book of the Year by the Biblical Archeology Society.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. These ancient manuscripts date from approximately the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE and include biblical texts, non-biblical writings, and other Jewish literature.

These scrolls are invaluable. They contain the oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible texts, predating previously known copies by over a thousand years, and allow scholars to trace textual transmission and variants. The non-biblical materials provide unprecedented insight into Second Temple Judaism, revealing the diversity of Jewish thought and practice during this formative period. The Scrolls illuminate the religious landscape that gave birth to both rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. The Scrolls also reveal apocalyptic beliefs, messianic expectations, and communal practices that help contextualize the emergence of numerous traditions.

Studying and discussing the Dead Sea Scrolls will enhance our understanding of biblical interpretation, the development of Jewish law, the historical Jesus, our knowledge of ancient Judaism, and the evolution of Jewish and Christian traditions.

Our core book is JC VanderKam and P Flint, The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls . . . , a popular, readable, informative, comprehensive and well-regarded book that received an award for Best Book of the Year by the Biblical Archeology Society.

Through the viewing of selected films and the review of supplemental materials (such as articles, profiles, reviews, etc.) this SDG will trace Robert Redford’s evolution as an actor, from romantic leading man to political and socially engaged performer. It will explore his transition into directing and his signature themes: family, morality, the American landscape, and institutional critique. Finally, it will seek to understand his broader influence on cinema through the creation of Sundance and support for independent filmmakers.

After a highly successful survey of films dealing with the Jewish experience in America, we now broaden our survey to explore the modern Jewish experience in countries throughout the western world.  Notable creators have explored provocative themes in a number of countries, creating memorable films. We have chosen ten films from foreign countries as well as four made in America. Such highly esteemed directors such as De Sica, Lean, Truffaut and Spielberg brought their visions to life over sixty years. This extensive period inevitably includes the rise of fascism, the Holocaust and the founding of the state of Israel, but also  involves a variety of more intimate topics.  We will consider the reception and reaction to each film, as well as  the world situation at the time of each film's release.

Sometimes the truth is even more amazing than the fantasy!

The Knights Templar are famous today for their cameos in The Da Vinci Code and Assassin’s Creed, but in real life they were warrior monks who fought in some of the most bloody battles in the Middle Ages. As a military religious order sanctioned by the Pope, they took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

The Order Of The Poor Knights Of The Temple Of Solomon (aka The Templars) was founded in Jerusalem in 1119 to protect pilgrims travelling around Christian sites of worship in the years after the armies of the First Crusade had seized the Holy Land from Muslim rule. Over the next two centuries they developed into an elite paramilitary organization with a sideline in banking and financial services. They became extremely wealthy through many generous donations of both money and land.

However by the early 14th century the crusades were failing and the Templars were going out of fashion. French king, Philip IV, with an eye on their money, decided to destroy them. The first round-ups of The Templars started in France in 1307. It was one of the ugliest political persecutions in history. 

As Philip attacked them, ministers produced a sexed-up dossier of allegations, accusing Templar brothers of spitting on images of Christ, having secret homoerotic induction ceremonies and worshiping statues. It was all phony, but the idea took root and by 1312 the Pope had ordered the Templars to be put to a final end. Their leading members, including the last master, Jacques de Molay, were burned at the stake in 1314.

Popular fascination with The Templars goes back to well before the age of cinema and video games. It began around 1200 AD when a German poet, Wolfram von Eschenbach, wrote his version of the King Arthur stories and included some knights called The Templeisen as guardians of a mysterious object called The Grail, which didn’t really exist.

 In this sdg we will also learn about the bizarre conspiracy theories that continue even today. In the epilogue to this narrative history, acclaimed historian Dan Jones does an admirable job of putting this nonsense to rest . Described by author Philippa Gregory as a “gripping page-turner, (our core book) is genuinely moving and a chilling contemporary warning about the abuse of power through persecution and lies.” 

Weekly reading averages 50 pages.

     Oscar Wilde is a study in arrogance, artistic brilliance and great success, leading to a catastrophic fall and tragic end. After an unusual, precocious childhood and college career, he became a notorious London aesthete and writer and then launched his career to become an enormously successful playwright. He also wrote short fiction, sensitive prose and a memorable novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

      Wilde’s plays sparkle with wit and clever dialogue. They are amusing and offer insight into the social, intellectual and aesthetic lives of the upper classes in late 19th century London. Anyone who has seen The Importance of Being Earnest and/or his other plays knows Wilde’s skills as an author, wit and entertainer. As if that were not enough, Wilde’s life is a story in itself. It includes fame, notoriety, his trials concerning allegations of homosexual conduct (then criminal in Britain), his conviction and consequent fall from grace, as well as his life and philosophical thoughts after his brilliant public life was over.

     An SDG on Wilde’s works alone would be more than justified, but the inclusion of the terrible later events gives context to Wilde, his works, the English audiences of the time and English society generally.  We will, of course, read the plays and major prose works.  We will pose questions about his life and evaluations of his works, including: Did his chosen life made disaster inevitable? Is there a moral lesson there? Is the philosophy in Reading Gaol, De Profundis and other works sincere or contrived? Is there anything to be learned from the characters in his plays and their interactions? Are his works enduring or simply a witty flash in the pan? What do they say about the English society of the tiime?  Do his actions and his conviction disqualify him from serious consideration? Ultimately, do we have sympathy and admiration or contempt for him? In short, we will explore the man and his works and their connections.

     The 14 week schedule includes Wilde’s biography, his best known plays, Dorian Gray, his serious essays and selections from his short fiction and poetry. There is a new, complete and excellent biography of Wilde which covers all the aspects of his life and works: “Oscar Wilde: A Life” by Matthew Sturgis. In addition, there are films of his plays on You Tube and elsewhere, audios of his plays and much material on internet sites.

This SDG will focus on Daniel Lewis’  book,  Twelve Trees- The deep roots of our future. Lewis is a writer and environmental historian. His book masterfully combines science, history, poetry, and practical approaches to the challenges of climate change and the complex relationship between people and the natural world. The book illustrates how trees are intertwined with human history, myths, art, and cultural practices.

The book features 12 trees. We learn about them from visits all around the globe to plant breeding labs, 
museum collections, botanical gardens, research facilities and to the trees themselves from the tops of tall trees to under water to the jungles of S. America and the US. deserts. Trees, like humans, live complicated lives and contribute to the health of their ecosystems. Both serve as community builders, chroniclers of history and exemplars of resilience and cooperation. Trees are “a precious resource; refugees and invaders; recorders, victims, and perhaps solvers of the changing climate.” In the face of environmental transformation, Lewis shows us how the salvation of trees is intertwined with the salvation of humanity. 

As one reviewer said, if you are interested in trees, you will love this book. If you are not interested in trees, this book will show you why you should be.

In addition to this text, the SDG will read What Tree is That?  by the Arbor Day Foundation.  One session of the SDG will take a field trip to UCLA grounds to practice tree identification.

This class will offer a distinctive and timely look at our founding document with emphasis on how it has evolved over the last 239 years. It will provide a perspective of today's polarized government by offering a view of the Constitution not as a fixed, worshiped artifact, but as a dynamic arena of "fierce, logical, passionate...struggle for a more perfect union." A significant focus of this course will be on "We the people," the opening words of the Preamble to the Constitution, and how the understanding of who is included within that term has changed over time. The title of this SDG comes from our core book We the People: a History of the U.S. Constitution, by Jill Lepore, the noted Harvard University history professor and staff writer for The New Yorker. We will also consider changes to the Constitution that may occur during the time of this SDG as we review cases recently decided or now pending before the Supreme Court involving significant constitutional issues.  

This class will offer a distinctive and timely look at our founding document with emphasis on how it has evolved over the last 239 years.  It will provide a perspective of today's polarized government by offering a view of the Constitution not as a fixed, worshiped artifact, but as a dynamic arena of "fierce, logical, passionate...struggle for a more perfect union."  A significant focus of this course will be on "We the people," the opening words of the Preamble to the Constitution, and how the understanding of who is included within that term has changed over time.  The title of this SDG comes from our core book We the People: a History of the U.S. Constitution, by Jill Lepore, the noted Harvard University history professor and staff writer for The New Yorker.  We will also consider changes to the Constitution that may occur during the time of this SDG as we review cases recently decided or now pending before the Supreme Court involving significant constitutional issues.