The Great Courses

I am slowly slogging through "Experiencing Shakespeare: From Page to Stage".
While some of the information is interesting ( certainly not profound) … I am amazed that the author ( Alissa Branch) is dressed in an outfit more appropriate for a teenager with low self esteem. Is Great Courses requiring a high libido to substitute for low content in their current curriculum?

The great course I would like to discuss is the great course on understanding the quantum world, quantum mechanics is something that I have been researching for a good while now and a great deal of the information does align with that research, there's way too much personal opinion though, based not on scientific fact but opinion, especially in regards to consciousness and its relation to quantum affects. They have a physicist, explaining quantum mechanics from a physicists point of view, physicists have been trying to cut down quantum mechanics since it was discovered. I am disappointed to see that in general, that category of scientists have not learned to put down their own egos down in order to work with the facts that have been collected from repeated and peer reviewed experimentation. Now I have gotten quite a few other great courses, and I may leave better reviews for those as I move through them but so far understanding the Quantum World just strikes me as another salvo launched from the "all that matters is matter" crowd scientist still don't understand consciousness, where it comes from or how it affects the universe around us. I would give this a lower score. But other then the above mentioned issue the presenter has been engaging, the visuals appealing, and the books wording easy to digest. So that leaves me at a 3. Please scientists…. Stop acting like politicians.

In February of 2023, I ordered a Course (DVD and book). It was my first time dealing with this company and one of the incentives for me was their 365-day money back guarantee. The purchase was practically risk-free. Because the course was not what I envisioned, I returned it (via USPS, with tracking) and it was delivered to them on May 22,2023. Initially, they told me the refund process would be about 3 weeks. Then, it was 4 to 6 weeks. The latest is that it's 6 to 8 weeks. The reason they gave is that they are migrating their database. But, suspiciously, the migration process isn't affecting their INcoming orders, only their OUTgoing refunds. So, 8 weeks after my return was delivered to them (as proven so by USPS tracking), I'm still waiting for a refund. And each time I call them (because emails do not get responded to for days - and I can prove that as well) to ask about the status, there is an excruciating long wait time (average is about 16-23 minutes on hold). As stated, this was my first purchase from The Great Courses - and probably my last. 365-Day Money Back Guarantee? Sounds good in theory but fails miserably in practice.

Surprised at some of the negative views. Some complain about one course snd then expand the comment to imply it reflects all the courses. Even though we know they haven't watched more than a few. Either sloppy expression or sloppy thinking. I've been impressed with the presenters' skills, knowledge and support visuals where appropriate. I have 13 of their courses.

Hoping to learn about history and science, I bought several. You cannot imagine how boring all of them are: No effort whatsoever illustrating motivating the topic. Just imagine someone reading from a screen at a fast speed and often with a speech impediment. Of course, all the presenters are introduced as professors with a PhD degree, which means nothing. Also, all series are even produced in the same room with simply a green background. Yes, this company is a money making machine disregarding the responsibility with its customers and should be brought to justice. All my purchase were sent to the garbage can.

Be wary of this company. Don't use any promo codes and make sure you know exactly what you're getting into with them. They bill your credit card or bank account and never give you a receipt or email about any subscription.

I have been buying courses from them for the past 15 years. Primarily, history, literature, and philosophy, political science. Most of the courses were pretty good. But, I have noticed that professors were starting to inject political views in their courses a while back. Nowadays, practically every course is heavily biased towards the political correctness/woke side of the spectrum. One of the courses is blatant/in your face propaganda from 3 professors who work for an NGO backed by Soros and Gates... The name of the course is "Fighting Disinformation". Oh, the irony! What were they thinking? So for me, the Great Courses are over. Will never buy from them again.