collection of books published by Encyclopaedia Britannica, first in 1952 and revised in 1990; originally under the direction of Robert Maynard Hutchins and Mortimer J. Adler, revised by Adler; included works of philosophy, theology, history, science, social science, and literature, from Homer to the 20th century; based on adult education program designed by John Erskine for U.S. soldiers after World War I; later developed at Columbia University, University of Chicago, and St. John's College; Great Books Foundation formed in Chicago, Ill., in 1947 to form and coordinate adult reading groups in the U.S.