Innovations in the humanities classroom continue across the country, enhanced by new media and transnational approaches, even as the humanities face headwinds reflecting political concerns, resource constraints, and other contemporary challenges. Students still love 'great books' courses—both because of the wisdom and insight they can glean from their study and because the experience of doing work in common fuels meaningful conversations inside and outside of the classroom.

We can, and do, still inspire students to admire old texts. Still, we need positive, specific examples to guide our practices. This roundtable, composed of intellectual historians with different areas of expertise and long years of experience and experimentation, will address itself to the practical questions of what works to inspire wonder, curiosity, and deep critical engagement in the students of today. Each panelist will share with the audience the syllabus and principles behind a favorite course and seek to inspire audience members to design interdisciplinary courses that draw on local resources and fit the specific needs and fascinations of their own student bodies—but also that can be taught from the heart.

Rather than fretting about the future of the humanities, the point of this roundtable is to brighten it.