In this three-volume project, Dr. Adams, as a skilled sommelier, pairs a solid historical vision of Catholic education with tried and true classroom methods and techniques. Faithfully opening up the masterpiece that is The Heart of Culture, she shows how educational philosophy overflows into pedagogy, ideas finding fruition in action. This deserves to be read, pondered, and put into practice not just by Catholics, but by anyone committed to human flourishing. (Dr. Edward Mulholland, Sheridan Chair of Classics, Benedictine College)

If The Heart of Culture sets the table, Gwen Adams’ Handbooks serve the meal. These volumes are erudite, measured, and practical. They are also contagiously joyful. “Resource” is too banal a word for so splendid an accomplishment. Adams has offered a veritable treasure trove to all who seek to renew Catholic education for the glory of God. (John Sehorn, PhD, Academic Dean, Augustine Institute) 

One of the most promising and hopeful developments in contemporary education has been the growing attention to the classical liberal arts. Parents and students are increasingly seeking to free themselves from the shackles of an education that stifles logical thought and creative imagination. And they are finding that freedom where generations of students have found it: in the study of classic texts and engagement with the liberal arts. Gwen Adams has done a marvelous service by producing three superb volumes, each of which provides, in addition to a brief historical background to help readers understand the educational practices of the era—Classical to Monastic; Medieval to the Renaissance-Baroque; and The Enlightenment to Modern—a host of creative exercises and ways of teaching this material to students. This combination of serious scholarship on the liberal arts and pedagogical practices to teach them is unmatched. Every homeschool family and Catholic school should have these volumes and should use them, well, liberally. (Randall B. Smith, Ph.D., Michael J. Miller Endowed Professor of Theology, University of St. Thomas, Houston) 

The Heart of Culture has long been a favorite of mine to both use as a reference in my own teaching about the history of education and as a book I have recommended to others hundreds of times. With Dr. Adams’ Handbook project, educators everywhere can plumb the depths of The Heart of Culture’s practical consequences with a trusted mentor. We owe gratitude to Dr. Adams for taking on this quest to unpack over two millennia of “best practices” and provide teachers with real classroom-ready activities that bring children (and teachers!) real joy and deep learning. And, like every great teacher, Dr. Adams enriches her efforts by making sure she has consulted many of the leaders in the renewal of Catholic education to help make sure she remains a student while also serving us as a master. (Michael Van Hecke, President/Publisher, Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, Catholic Textbook Project) 

As a seasoned educator, Dr. Adams brings her deep knowledge and practical wisdom to help teachers implement the ideals aspired to in The Heart of Culture. With a rare blend of brevity and depth, the Handbook(s) provides a practical guide for teachers to restore their classrooms as places of meaningful encounter capable of forming young minds in the pursuit of beauty, truth, and goodness. (Ryan Hanning, PhD, Liffrig Family School of Education, University of Mary)

Dr. Gwen Adams has, with these beautiful volumes, provided an important and valuable resource for the renewal of Catholic education. Handbook to the Heart of Culture is a thoughtful unpacking of the history and philosophy found in The Heart of Culture; it is simultaneously an imminently practical workbook for teachers adaptable to a variety of educational settings. Pope Benedict XVI once wrote, “Education is the most interesting and difficult adventure in life.” Dr. Adams has provided a detailed roadmap for our adventure. (Michael Adkins, PhD, Director of Academics, Saint Agnes School, Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Dr. Adams’ three-volume companion to The Heart of Culture is a marvelous contribution to the history, philosophy, and practice of classical education. Each volume of the Handbook to the Heart of Culture is equal parts well-researched wisdom from the past and practical application for the present. Even more importantly, it is clear that these reflections are grounded in and point towards a complete way of being in the world. Whether read cover to cover or used as an encyclopedic resource, Handbook to the Heart of Culture would provide years of material for professional development or personal enrichment. Anyone interested in improving their pedagogical practices, forming school culture, or leading others in the same will find this an indispensable resource. (Jon Balsbaugh, Hillsdale College, Kairos Educational Consulting)

Many educators fall in love with the Church’s great educational tradition only to wonder what to do next, feeling impaired in their ability to implement it in the classroom. Dr. Gwen Adams meets this pressing need by offering concrete steps for embracing a pedagogy rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty. These volumes make a substantial step toward embracing a truly Catholic and holistic approach to formation. (R. Jared Staudt, PhD, author of Words Made Flesh: The Sacramental Mission of Catholic Education)

Dr. Adams masterfully weaves together rich historical context with practical techniques for implementation that will help educators develop their craft and lead students into the rich feast of goodness, truth, and beauty that awaits them. Teachers and leaders in the ongoing movement to renew and restore education have been awaiting these works with great eagerness. And they will not be disappointed! (Krystyn Schmerbeck, Director, Graduate Programs in Classical Education, Sheridan Center for Classical Studies, Benedictine College)

Gwen Adams has created a powerhouse guide packed with the history of liberal education, its core principles, and practical plans for passing it on to our students. She sets a course straight for the heart of what our students ought to know and love and how teachers can lead their students to intellectual, spiritual, and moral freedom. Handbook to the Heart of Culture is destined to land on the shortlist of the most important books on liberal education and Catholic culture. (Andrew J. Zwerneman, President of Cana Academy and narrator for the documentary film series HISTORY250)

Gwen Adams has done a great job of providing grounded, practical advice to new and veteran teachers alike rooted in the history of Catholic education. By integrating the historical and the practical, she provides clear methods that can be implemented in the classroom. She provides a main theme for the periods of Catholic educational history: wonder, docility, and integrity while providing digestible practical advice that can be reflected upon and implemented. The workbook portions of the book were my favorite; all teachers, new and old, will find this resource helpful as a thought partner in helping students learn and love learning. (Peter Nguyen, Executive Director of the St. Thomas More Teaching Fellows, Catholic Talent Project)

Dr. Adams’ Handbook is full of wisdom from the West’s finest educators. Uniting scholarship with practical pedagogical advice, this collection offers two gifts in one: a meditation on the roots of Christian culture and a toolkit for parents and teachers engaged in the practical work of cultivating those roots in the home, the classroom, and the parish. A marvelous contribution to the current revival of classical Catholic education. (Ryan Topping, Founder and Director of the Gregory the Great Institute and author of ten books on education and culture)

Gwen Adams’ three-volume Handbook to The Heart of Culture has done an invaluable service for Catholic educators. She provides educational treasures of the Church, old and new, to those who may have forgotten or never known about these riches. She discusses theoretical ideas with clarity and offers concrete practices with nuance and in a manner that invites creative adaptation in classrooms. This work will be a great asset to those involved in the apostolate of Catholic education today. (Benjamin V. Beier, PhD, Chair & Associate Professor of Education, Hillsdale College)

Centuries ago, Cicero asserted, without fear of contradiction, that “to be ignorant of history is to be forever a child.” Dr. Adams, in her three volumes, ensures that none of her readers will suffer that fate. Her goal in giving us a deep understanding of the history is truly “a guide for cultivating the soil of Catholic culture and education.” The practical applications are invaluable and thus this trilogy should be on the desk of every Catholic school superintendent, principal, teacher, bishop, and priest. Our author has made a major contribution to the renewal of Catholic education, and we are all in her debt. (Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, PhD, STD, President, Catholic Education Foundation, and Dean, Faculty of Education, Pontifex University)

Gwen Adams has crafted an essential resource in these three rich Handbooks to The Heart of Culture. Adams masterfully traces Catholic educational philosophy from its Greek and Jewish foundations through monastic, medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary periods, while offering practical reflections on wonder, docility, and studiousness. Her work brilliantly translates theoretical wisdom into concrete pedagogical approaches—from nature study and Socratic discussions to poetry analysis and theatrical productions—that embody an integrated vision of human formation. Having taught the “Heart of Culture” course that gave rise to the book, these are the handbooks I didn’t know I needed. They are verdant branches of the increasingly bountiful Catholic Studies vine planted by my mentor Don Briel. For anyone committed to educational renewal, Adams offers a concrete roadmap toward education that fosters both the love of learning and the desire for God. (Alex Lessard, PhD, MSFS, Founder and President, Adeodatus)