Classics Book Club
The USU Classics Book Club is open to anyone looking to examine literature that connects to topics relevant to Greco-Roman culture and life while uncovering conversations about modern life. Along with some fine swag, members receive a free copy of the book that the club will read and discuss over the course of their meetings.
Book Club Selections
- December 2026: Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global
- June 2026: The Golden Road
- December 2025: The King Must Die
- June 2025: What Is Ancient History?
- June 2024: Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook the Roman World
- December 2023: SPQR by Mary Beard
- June 2023: The Epic of Gilgamesh by Sophus Helle (trans.)
- December 2022: Flying Snakes and Griffin Claws by Adrienne Mayor
- June 2022: The Battle of the Classics by Eric Adler
- December 2021: Circe by Madeline Miller
- June 2021: The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
- December 2020: The Storm Before the Storm by Mike Duncan
Support the Classics Book Club
The Classics Book Club is made possible entirely through donor support. Members receive a copy of the selected book and are invited to participate in three one-hour discussion sessions, typically held via Zoom in December or June. Sessions are recorded for later viewing, and participants can continue the conversation through a shared online discussion.
Continued Learning
The Classics Book Club fosters interest in ancient studies, especially among former USU Classics students, as a reminder that their education here was only one step in a lifetime of learning. It helps participants stay connected to new discoveries, ideas, and conversations while strengthening a vibrant community of learners united by a passion for the ancient world.
Your Gift at Work
Your gift helps us expand outreach, grow our community, and provide books to participants. Every donation directly supports the purchase and distribution of books, ensuring that more students and alumni can continue exploring the ancient world and the enduring influence of the past.
Your gift will be used only for the above-stated purpose if the required minimum expendable level of $10,000 is met by June 30, 2031. If not met, the gift will be moved to a general fund with a similar purpose.
If circumstances arise that render the stated purpose of the gifts (as set forth herein) illegal, impractical, impossible, or wasteful (e.g., a change in law, the elimination of a USU program, position, or course of study, the persistent unavailability of scholarship recipients that meet the criteria, etc.); then, as set forth in this Solicitation, under such circumstances and in keeping with Utah Code 51-8-501(1), USU may designate a new purpose [and/or scholarship selection criteria] for the gifts. Any such new purpose shall be defined by USU’s President and Dean of the College.
Effective July 1, 2021, a 5% university gift investment fee, governed by USU’s applicable policies, will be applied to all new, non-endowed gifts to improve University Advancement’s capacity to increase and manage philanthropic giving to USU.
By letter dated April 8, 1959, the Internal Revenue Service has declared USU (federal tax identification number 87-6000528), to be a duly qualified charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) and also an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Contact
Mark Damen
Professor | Norm Jones Faculty Fellow
History, Cultures, and Ideas