Harvard Course Demanding Weekly Novel Reading and Device-Free Study Gains Popularity
A rigorous humanities class at Harvard, HUM 10, is seeing high demand from students seeking deep engagement with literature and writing, eschewing digital distractions.
A demanding humanities course at Harvard University, HUM 10, which requires students to read a classic novel each week and bans electronic devices, has become a highly sought-after class on campus. Despite a capacity of 90 students, over 180 freshmen have applied in recent years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The course emphasizes intensive discussion of literary works and guides students in developing their writing skills through regular essays. Professor David Elmer, a professor of Greek literature and the course's instructor, stated that the aim is to help students craft their writing in response to these texts. He noted that distinguished faculty from across Harvard's humanities departments are recruited to teach books that have significantly impacted them.
Former students have shared their experiences, with one describing the course as "no joke" but still enjoyable. The reading list has included works such as Homer's "Odyssey," Giovanni Boccaccio's "The Decameron," and Dan Brown's "Inferno." The curriculum also involves regular essays and in-depth discussions.
Elmer suggested that the course's appeal might stem from a perceived cultural environment that is not conducive to deep reading and thinking. He commented that the increasing influence of AI could be a factor in students seeking more profound intellectual engagement, though he expressed uncertainty about this directly. Peggy Urdan, a Harvard alumna who took the course, emphasized that the human experience derived from such studies cannot be replicated by AI.
Prominent scholars, including historian Jill Lepore and critic Namwali Serpell, have taught HUM 10. In 2023, Elmer and Professor Mattress took over leadership from previous instructors Menand and Greenblatt, who continue to contribute to the curriculum.
Students reportedly seek out the class for its disciplined approach, with some dismissing the idea of using AI tools to complete the reading. Urdan underscored the necessity of disconnecting from AI to fully benefit from the course's teachings.