2021 Great Books Discussion Series: Journeys in Virtue In 1947, two educators from the University of Chicago, Robert Maynard Hutchins, president of the university, and Professor Mortimer J. Adler, established the Great Books Foundation to bring together passionate readers to meet and talk about enduring issues and ideas. Three years later, these gentlemen joined Walter Paepcke to form the Aspen Institute. Today, the Great Books program remains integrally linked to the ideals of the Aspen Institute. This five-week program offers participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the most significant books in the Western intellectual tradition through a weekly moderated dialogue.