The Monadnock Summer Lyceum

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Since 1970, the Unitarian Church in Peterborough has hosted the Monadnock Summer Lyceum, an historic series of summer lectures covering a broad range of issues.

The lecture series is a revival of the original Lyceum, begun in the mid-nineteenth century, the first in New Hampshire. It is known as "a feast for the thoughtful" and features prominent speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines who discuss topics of importance to our times.

Lectures are held during the summer months on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. The presentations are typically 45 minutes long, with additional time allowed for questions and answers. Audience members are invited to meet each speaker at a reception in the parish hall immediately following the talk.

You can find out more about the Lyceum by visiting the Monadnock Summer Lyceum website.

2007 Lyceum Schedule:

Lecture Lecture Date Air Date
Elizabeth Thomas: Civilization, the Harmless People and a Return to Civility June 24 June 30
Hugh Kauffman: A More Civilized Approach to Responding to Environmental Disasters July 1 July 7
Jim Grant: The Death of Common Sense in Our Classrooms July 8 July 14
Judson D. Hale Sr.: New England: Fact of Fiction July 15 July 21
Rev. Dr. Gloria E. White-Hammond: The Anatomy of the Social Movement to Save Darfur July 22 July 28
David M. Shribman: The Character of Politics July 29 August 4
Lewis Hyde: Cultural Commons August 5 August 11
August Watters and the New England Mandolin Ensemble: Mandolins and MacDowell August 12 August 18
Bud Elkind: Brain Injury: The Silent Epidemic August 19 August 25
Peter Galbraith: Diplomacy in World Politics August 26 September 1


Lyceum on NHPR
Lectures are broadcast the Saturdays after they are given at 4:00 pm throughout the summer, and can be heard anytime online at NHPR.org.

Request a CD
To order the CD of a Lyceum presentation, please send a letter stating speaker (e.g. Rob Williams), date of broadcast (e.g. July 10, 2005) and a check for $15.00 (which includes shipping and handling) to:

Monadnock Summer Lyceum
Audio Recording Department
25 Main Street
Peterborough, NH 03458

or email the Lyceum


2006 Series: Lecture Date Listen
Steve Curwood, The Good News About Climate Action June 25 MP3
Letty M. Russell, Hospitality in a World of Difference and Danger July 2 MP3
Jamaica Kincaid, Notes from a Seed Collector July 9 MP3
Buzz McLaughlin, The Making of an Independent Film July 16 MP3
Bill Littlefield, Why I Have the World's Best Job July 23 MP3
Governor Christine Todd Whitman, The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of America July 30 MP3
Reverend Dr. Robin Meyers, Why the Christian Right is Wrong:
A Minister's Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, Your Future
August 6 MP3
MacDowell Medal Day, A Tribute to Alice Munro August 13 MP3
Jill Nelson Living in Parallel Universes or How to Enjoy Life When You’re Not Enjoying Current Events August 20 MP3
Dr. Lionel Tiger, Evolution of the American Male August 27 MP3

 

2005 Series: Lecture Date Listen
Gary Hirshberg, How Business Can Save The World July 3 Windows Media Player
Rob Williams: Our 21st Century Hyper-Media Culture July 10 Windows Media Player
Grace Paley: In and Out of The World July 17 Windows Media Player
Richard Meryman: Andrew Wyeth: Genius Misunderstood July 24 Windows Media Player
Rev. William G. Sinkford: Finding Common Ground July 31 Windows Media Player
Bill Curry: Confessions of a Zen Democrat August 7 MP3
Jeff Warner: Banjos, Bones and Ballads August 14 MP3
David Houghton: Future NH: Land Use Planning and Habitat Preservat August 21 MP3
Ellen Langer: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity August 28 MP3
Christopher Ricks: Gratitude for Bob Dylan Sept. 4  

 

2004 Series: Lecture Date Listen
Daniel Silver: Refuge In Hell: How Berlin's Jewish Hospital Outlasted the Nazis July 4 Windows Media Player
Robert Putnam: Rebuilding The American Community In An Age Of Change July 11 Windows Media Player
Ilan Stavans: The American Language July 18 Windows Media Player
Cynthia Duncan: Civic Culture in New England Communities: Why the Middle Class Matters July 25  
Laura Murphy: The USA Patriot Act: Is It All That Bad? August 1 Windows Media Player
Ted Nace: Confessions Of A Recovering Capitalist August 8 Windows Media Player
Arnie Arnesen and Charlie Arlinghaus: Politics in America: The New Weapon of Mass Polarization August 15 Windows Media Player
Gail Siegal: New Visions: Aging In the 21st Century August 22 Windows Media Player
Charles Collier: The Practices Of Successful Families August 29 Windows Media Player
Zainab Salbi: A Refugee Woman's Reality Sept. 5
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