(no subject)

[deckardcanine]

Most of the time, I barely look at ads in the mail before putting them aside for recycling. But yesterday I got a catalog of "The Great Courses," offering educational DVDs and CDs at greatly reduced prices. They even sell themselves short: Why say "Save up to 70%" when some of the reductions are 80% or more? (That may be a bad sign for their carefulness.)

Clearly, if I'm going to buy from them at all, I'd best do so by March 4 or else wait for the next big sale. But I said to myself, "Pretend that the reduced price is the usual price. Sure, 24 half-hour lectures at $60 (for instance) is a deal, but are you willing to pay even that much?" It's not that I don't have much money to spare. I just want to make sure it's well spent.

Yet whenever I feel like tossing the catalog, I wonder if it's just a resurgence of my habit of living like I'll die soon. Why shouldn't I enrich my knowledge, even if I can't be sure that I'll ever get to use it? It's better than securing permanent stagnation.

The next question is which course to buy (it won't be more than one). A DVD would do me better, since I'm a visual learner. The issue's featured course, Building Great Sentences, sounds like something meant for poorer writers than me; besides, Sinclair Lewis said the only ways to learn to write are by writing and, possibly, reading the sort of material you want to write. I've ruled out the entire religion section for fear of bias against it, especially with the strong presence of Bart D. Ehrman. I'm leaning toward something I've barely studied and/or something that will probably serve me regardless of where I go in life.

Ultimately, these are the most tempting offers (prices rounded up by $0.05):
* Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy -- 96 lectures, DVD only, $800 $190
* The Joy of Science -- 60 lectures, DVD $625 $125, CD $450 $85
* Games People Play: Game Theory in Life, Business, and Beyond -- 24 lectures, DVD only, $255 $60
* Understanding Complexity -- 12 lectures, DVD only, $200 $35
* Dark Matter, Dark Energy: The Dark Side of the Universe -- 24 lectures, DVD only, $255 $60
* The Art of Reading -- 24 lectures, DVD $255 $60, CD $180 $40
* Books That Have Made History: Books That Can Change Your Life -- 36 lectures, DVD $375 $85, CD $270 $55
* The Wisdom of History -- 36 lectures, DVD $375 $85, CD $270 $55
* Economics -- 36 lectures, DVD $375 $85, CD $270 $55
* The Art of Critical Decision Making -- 24 lectures, DVD $255 $60, CD $180 $40
* Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning -- 24 lectures, DVD $255 $60, CD $180 $40

My penchant for some scientifically oriented Web comics is showing here. :)

What do you think?

ADDENDA: The prices include course guidebooks. There's a money-back guarantee.

Comments

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

For astronomy, rent Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" series from Netflix, save the $190. Check Netflix for DVDs on the other subjects too. I usually don't buy any DVDs until I'm sure they're worthwhile and I know I'll watch them more than once. Maybe buy one DVD from that company to find out if they're high quality lectures or cheap scams.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

Judging from online reviews, they're not scams. I neglected to mention that (1) the prices include course guidebooks and (2) there's a money-back guarantee.

Incidentally, Netflix recently recommended Cosmos to me. I didn't add it yet, but it's something to consider.

[thatcatgirl.livejournal.com]

I don't remember Cosmos very well (it's been a really, really long time), but I do remember that I enjoyed it.

[thatcatgirl.livejournal.com]

OOh, you have a tough call there. I'll come back with a run-down of my thoughts, in case there's any help to be gleaned from them.

[thatcatgirl.livejournal.com]

I personally love astronomy, at one point in time I was planning to major in it, though I haven't kept up very well with recent developments in either astronomy or physics.

How's your level of scientific knowledge? "The Joy of Science" sounds like an introduction (Maybe a progression to Understanding the Universe, and then Dark Matter?). Though an introductory science course can be really fun. Do they say anything about difficulty or course order in the catalog?

Game theory is an interesting topic. Wikipedia has a bunch of pages on it, though (woah, a whole lot now, looks like I should go back and read some more).

Complexity could be a lot of things, I don't know exactly what you'd get Wikipedia wasn't any help either (although they do have a nice graph). :D

"Art of Reading" sounds like it might be nice if it's not some "learning to study" kind of thing.

"Books That Have Made History" and "Wisdom of History" both sound pretty subjective, like they could be great or could be awful (or pointless). Hard to guess.

Economics is a useful subject, I don't think *I* could stand a course on it, but it is useful.

"Critical Decision Making" sounds useful, but I wonder how much non-obvious material they really managed to put together.

"Argumentation" sounds like it would be like a debate/logic course, like the one I took in college, something I would generally recommend. Occasionally someone laments about how few people arguing on the internet have taken one (it's way too obvious waaay too often). Your debate-fu is already good, though, so if you haven't taken one, it would probably mostly be a formalization of stuff you already know, with a little new material, and tips for catching bad arguments. If you haven't and you don't, all the info should be findable on the internet, I may even have a link around here that isn't dead.


Well, that was long. And long in coming (I meant to post last night, but got distracted at Wikipedia). Hope something helps a little.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

How's your level of scientific knowledge?

Feels no better than average, tho that may be because of the company I keep. Science courses were never my best, and my two worst teachers were in science. I'd like to be able to keep pace with geeky topics on the "FreeFall" and "21st Century Fox" forums.

Wikipedia has a bunch of pages on it

As much as the Net has reduced my drive to take courses, I'd rather not try to parse game theory from Wikipedia.

Complexity could be a lot of things, I don't know exactly what you'd get Wikipedia wasn't any help either

It is if you know where to look. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_adaptive_system) The course is about complexity science.

"Art of Reading" sounds like it might be nice if it's not some "learning to study" kind of thing.

Aren't learning-to-study courses usually marketed to non-grads? This course seems to be about fully appreciating literature.

"Books That Have Made History" and "Wisdom of History" both sound pretty subjective

Good point. But at least they present perspectives, so I'm likely to come away with something.

Economics is a useful subject

FWIW, I took Investment Science for a semester in 12th grade. Pretty handy; I wonder what more I'd learn.

"Critical Decision Making" sounds useful, but I wonder how much non-obvious material they really managed to put together.

If it gets praise, I doubt it's mostly obvious.

Your debate-fu is already good

You think so? I seem to lose more arguments than I win.

[thatcatgirl.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. That sounds like average or a little better. :) A science survey course should still be good, depending on it's level. As things went, I never got to take any astronomy classes in college, so I can't say what they require beforehand, but I would guess that you wouldn't have any trouble with one. Wish I had enough background to say yay or nay about Dark Matter, but I really don't know.

As much as the Net has reduced my drive to take courses, I'd rather not try to parse game theory from Wikipedia.

It's not as bad as it sounds. :> Wikipedia was my introduction to the concept (and remains my main source of info on it, I haven't found much about it elsewhere). Although the list of pages has gotten rather intimidating.

It is if you know where to look. The course is about complexity science.

That looks interesting. And, like it wouldn't take more science background than you likely have, probably some math, though, I seem to remember you saying somewhere that you had taken at least one calculus class, I'd expect that to be enough.

Is this catalog only marketed to grads? If it is a lit course, it sounds like it'd be good.

But at least they present perspectives, so I'm likely to come away with something.

In that case, I gotta say "Wisdom of History" sounds really intriguing.

FWIW, I took Investment Science for a semester in 12th grade.

hmm, probably not *as* useful to you, then.

You think so? I seem to lose more arguments than I win.

If you mean convincing your opponent, you shouldn't expect to. If you mean that you get yelled over or quit trying first, that doesn't make you unconvincing.

When I see you arguing with somebody on lj, you tend to make a better show of it. Your arguments are well-reasoned, and I've seen you take on odd stuff that people bring in.

But if you feel shakey about it, I recommend that you study it in some way, whether it be by class, a book, or on the net. It's not hard material, but perhaps some ways are more enjoyable than others.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your input. Of course, that still leaves me with several disparate promising courses.

I seem to remember you saying somewhere that you had taken at least one calculus class, I'd expect that to be enough.

Except that I haven't had to use it in a decade, so I remember almost zilch offhand.

[thatcatgirl.livejournal.com]

Hey, I never said I could solve the problem. :> ('s a good problem to have, anyway.)

I know what you mean about calculus. I haven't done anything with it since, about a year or so after my last class in it, I think. I remember the basics, and that's about it. :( I'd like to think I could pick it back up with only a little refresher, but I don't know.

Cheap lectures

[akktri.livejournal.com]

I've got a much cheaper alternative. Find a bunch of science websites, download a copy of Agent Reader (free text reader program), download some instrumental music, and find a free sound recorder program. Have Agent Reader read all of your science websites with the background music while you're doing the dishes or whatever, and then play it back and pretend it's a lecture. Or you can listen to it record and then play it back to get the ideas reinforced in your head.
There are also plentiful lectures on Youtube for various subjects.