Wisdom Begins in Wonder: Conversations on Classical Education

Wisdom Begins in Wonder invites readers into a rich, imaginative journey through classical education—told through the form of a play and a series of Socratic conversations. Written during the early stages of Dr. Anika T. Prather’s doctoral research, this creative work captures her unfolding discovery of the classical tradition and its deep relevance to all people, especially within the Black intellectual experience.

Blending theatre, philosophy, history, and personal reflection, Prather introduces readers to the Trivium, the Great Books, and the democratic ideals at the heart of liberal education. Along the way, iconic voices such as Dorothy Sayers, Mortimer Adler, and W. E. B. Du Bois join the conversation, helping illuminate how classical learning nurtures freedom of thought and a profound sense of human dignity.

Part introduction, part dialogue, and part personal pilgrimage, Wisdom Begins in Wonder offers an engaging and accessible doorway into classical education—perfect for educators, students, and anyone curious about how ancient texts speak to modern questions of identity, belonging, and liberation.