Objectivists recognize the value of history but have not yet had a viable means of securing that value in full. Modern academic historians have rendered the subject either impenetrable or distasteful. History, as it is written today, is either antiquarian or politicized. Histories written in the late nineteenth century have been a superior alternative for more ambitious readers, but even these sources fail to make history truly accessible, since their common sense approach defaults to intrinsicism, which divorces the past from the present. It’s no wonder that some many adult students of history ask me, “where can I get started?”
The answer is A First History for Adults™!
The Three-Part Curriculum (NOW HAS FOUR PARTS!)
A First History for Adults™ is a complete course in the history of western civilization, in three parts, totaling over 100 hours of instruction. Each part of the course builds on and reinforces the material presented in the earlier parts, offering students a complete and seamless understanding of history, as well as resources and a practical plan for continuing studies.
Part 1 – The Story of America (45 hours) - AVAILABLE IN FULL as digital recordings!
A First History for Adults™ starts where every history course should start: the present! America is our home, the world’s superpower, and the greatest embodiment of the unique values of western civilization. The Story of America is a detailed 30-lecture presentation of the fundamental narrative that illustrates how America came to be what it is.
Part 2 – Europe: Context and Foil (20 hours) - AVAILABLE IN FULL as digital recordings!
Once you’ve taken A First History for Adults™, Part 1, you’ll be hooked! Building from the base established in the Story of America, A First History for Adults™, Part 2 moves on to an intensive examination of the European context that gave rise to the United States. Europe: Context and Foil also examines the unique evolution of our mother continent into its present form.
Part 3 (NEW) – The Islamist Entanglement (15 hours) - AVAILABLE IN FULL as digital recordings!
A First History for Adults™ now includes a component crucial to understanding the world around us: The Islamist Entanglement. This course will provide a history of the major modern nation states of the Middle East. Learn more about it on the
Part 4 – The Ancient Background (30 hours) - AVAILABLE IN FULL as digital recordings!
Finally, with a well-integrated context in hand, A First History for Adults™, Part 3 immerses you in the wondrous ancient world. The Ancient Background enlivens the earliest accomplishments of Western civilization—especially of Ancient Greece and Rome—by connecting them to their continued development by Europe’s offspring cultures and, ultimately, to our lives today.
Learn more about the curriculum and the guiding philosophy behind the Powell History program on the curriculum page and the philosophy page
History that Fits Into Your Life
A First History for Adults™ is a lecture course that fits your schedule. Lectures are offered once a week in the early evenings. It’s perfect for professionals, parents, students—and teachers—who have daytime commitments.
On-line Curriculum
A First History for Adults™ is a web-based course, supplemented by maps, diagrams, and outlines. Registered students receive exclusively access to an archive of digital recordings in MP3 format, so you can listen to lectures anytime, and as many times as you like.
Testimonials
Find out what current students of Powell History are saying about 1HFA by viewing the testimonials page!
How to Register
Registration is now open for A First History for Adults™, Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4! Go to the registration page for more information.
Cost
The cost for A First History for Adults™, Part 1 is $399 ($349 for students). The cost for A First History for Adults™, Part 2 is $349 ($279 for students). Part 3 is $249 ($199 for students). Part 4 is $349 ($299 for students).