Category Archives: Reviews

Reviews On Other Sites (newest first)

From Plumfield and Paideia: “Whether one is Classical, Charlotte Mason, eclectic, traditional school-at-home, or an unschooler, it seems to be common practice to stand firmly on “our way” and be suspicious (or outright acrimonious) toward those who adhere to a different philosophy. Glass’ book is a breath of fresh air in a conversation that is sometimes polluted with vitriol. Instead of focusing on the differences, Consider This does exactly as the title suggests: it asks us to consider the rich educational traditions that we have in common, and the ways in which they have evolved and influenced our modern day philosophies.” Read the full review.

From an Australian blogger and educator: “In recent years the Circe Institute has been instrumental in helping me to better understand classical education and now Consider This, in exploring the roots of Charlotte Mason’s ideas, has provided a link between the two approaches.” Read the full review.

From Embellished: “I feel like I understand Charlotte Mason for the first time.” Read the full review.

From Homeschooling Downunder: “Whilst this is a book about philosophy it is not boring. It is filled with insight about the objectives behind Charlotte Mason’s methods and how well considered her methods were. It has challenged me to think more deeply into my own educational goals and ideals.” Read the full review.

Dr. Thorley offers his opinions. “In the Greek and Roman world education (which was only for the privileged minority) was concentrated on certain writers (poets, especially Homer, historians and orators)…” With that definition of classical education, readers of Consider This will not be surprised that he disagrees with my conclusion (Charlotte Mason is a partaker of the classical tradition of education), but not, in fact, with most of what I say. Read the full review.

From Marigold Quotidian:  ” She showed us how to think through educational ideas and try them out and in this sense Charlotte has added her voice to the great tradition of what we understand as Classical Education.” Read the full review.

Mystie Winkler at Simply Convivial: “It’s brief, concise, easy-to-read, and cuts straight to the point. I love it.” Read the full review.

Jennifer Dow at Expanding Wisdom: “One of the biggest frustrations I have encountered in pursuit of the this tradition is how many tensions seem to be unresolvable on this side of eternity. Karen resolved many of those tensions for me. It was like a healing balm on tattered nerves that were trying a bit too hard.” – Read the full review.

Review by Anne White

Anne is long-time friend and colleague, and it’s been very great privilege to work with her as part of the Advisory at amblesideonline.org .  I’ve visited her home and chatted with her in person on a few wonderful occasions as well.  She was one of my earliest readers, and asked me to share this review here.


Review of Consider This

by Anne White

It has been my privilege to have worked with Karen Glass as a fellow CM homeschooler and friend for many years. During that time, she became our “go-to person” on questions of classical education, and she often shared interesting parallels to Charlotte Mason’s writings that she had found in her own wide reading and research. Many of us hoped that she would someday be able to put her insights together in a book. I was delighted to be able to preview a copy of Consider This, which gets its title from Charlotte Mason’s response to a request for educational advice. Miss Mason responded, “The answer cannot be given in the form of ‘Do’ this and that, but rather as an invitation to ‘Consider’ this and that; action follows when we have thought duly.” It is a good title for a book that asks us to consider the deep foundations and traditions behind Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, and then (as Charlotte Mason and the classic educators would thoroughly approve), challenges us to put those ideas into practice. Karen considers the classical ideal of the unity of knowledge, reflects on what happened to that ideal, and offers (with Mason) suggestions on how we might attempt to reclaim it. Continue reading Review by Anne White

Kathy at Piney Woods Homeschool is another early reviewer!  Take a look.

In Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition, Karen Glass explains the choices facing all of us who have the responsibility of teaching children.  When we choose to present or not present certain topics, even more so when we choose to present topics in particular ways, we are making philosophical choices whether we know it or not.

Silvia Cachia is a fast reader, making her one of the first to have a review to share.  I’m so pleased that she liked it.

Her book is concise, her writing to the point, yet it contains all we need to hear on the matter. One can appreciate in this text the many years of careful study and practicing Charlotte Mason principles, and of learning and reading about what the Classical Tradition was and what it means to us.