J. Rufus Fears

My husband and I have been transfixed by Prof. Rufus Fears for the past month listening to his 36 lectures on the History of Freedom. We are moved to tears time and again; he has a mind and memory and ability to find the common thread leading to liberty or its excess through an incredible number of writers, leaders and events like no one we have ever listened to before. This short man, bald and with an impressive paunch, has an appearance that enhances his message: one does not need to...

How I envy those who were able to attend his lectures in person. I have listened to many of his lectures on the great courses website, and have only recently discovered that he has sadly passed away. The world has become a sadder place. His intelligence, charisma, and passion for his subject coupled with his extraordinary gift for story telling made him extremely interesting to listen to. Rest in peace professor Fears.

I have been an avid listener to Fears's courses from the Great Courses. I only now found out he passed and I can't help but feel the world is a sadder place. His avid stories, extensive knowledge and passion have us still quoting him years after we've listened to his courses. Rest in peace Mr Fears, you are a legend, a hero, and a myth unto yourself!

I am deeply saddened for demised of the brilliant and very distinguished professor. I never met him but I have watched and listened many of his lectures. He was my man of the 20th Century in history!

He was my favorite lecturer on what were then known as Great Courses audio tapes (back then). My wife calls them nerd lectures. I saw he had not done any in a long time, so looked him up on Wiki, and learned he had died 8 years ago. I am sorry. He enriched my life and his passing diminishes us all.

I have loved listening to the one series of lectures by Dr. J Rufus Fears since about 2009 from the Great Courses called: Books That Have Made History: Books That Can Change Your Life. I pick the CDs up from time to time, always learning something new.
He did change my life for the better because of his wonderful voice, wit, intelligence and vast knowledge.
I know it has been a long while since he passed but I don't follow mainstream media.
I received a catalog from the Great...

Thank God for J Rufus FearsGod rest his soul.

An amazing and inspiring teacher, a bearer and defender of the best of our culture and heritage.

The best Professor I ever had. I had the privilege of taking his courses "Freedom In Rome" and "Freedom In Greece" while I was a student at the University of Oklahoma.