Episode · The Shawn Ryan Show · 2025-04-03
Books mentioned on #188 Leigh & Robert Bortins - Why Parents Are Ditching Public Schools for Homeschooling
Leigh Bortins is the founder of Classical Conversations, a global homeschooling program rooted in classical, Christian education. With degrees in aerospace engineering and ministry, she blends analytical rigor with deep educational vision.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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How to Read the Bible
How to Read the Bible by James L.
Discussed“90% used to do it when the only three resources they had in their home was the Bible Shakespeare and the local newspaper”
Where to get it
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The Works of William Shakespeare
Discussed“90% used to do it when the only three resources they had in their home was the Bible Shakespeare and the local newspaper”
Where to get it
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The Federalist papers
The Federalist papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, James Madison, John Jay is a foundational collection of essays advocating for the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Recommended“we don't read some woke professors interpretation of the Federalist Papers we have our students read The Federalist Papers”
Where to get it
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The Federalist, or, The New Constitution
The Federalist, or, The New Constitution is a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that advocated for the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Discussed“and we got the actual Constitution and we read it and I read two or three sentences in and I said I don't know what I just said to you”
Where to get it
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The Iliad
The Iliad by Homer is an epic ancient Greek poem that recounts the wrath of Achilles and key dramatic events near the end of the Trojan War.
Discussed“I mean books like you know Johnny Tain The Iliad The Odyssey uh some Chronicles of Narnia books”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey
Homer's ancient epic poem The Odyssey recounts the arduous ten-year journey of the Greek hero Odysseus as he strives to return home to Ithaca following the Trojan War, facing mythical monsters, divine wrath, and perilous temptations along the way.
Discussed“I mean books like you know Johnny Tain The Iliad The Odyssey uh some Chronicles of Narnia books”
Where to get it
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S.
Discussed“I mean books like you know Johnny Tain The Iliad The Odyssey uh some Chronicles of Narnia books”
Where to get it
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Amos Fortune, Free Man
Discussed“so you may read like amamos Fortune Freeman in challenge one who was a Tanner and while you're doing that you're also in science learning about biology and tanning”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“A mother of four and grandmother of three, Leigh’s passion for home education began with homeschooling her own children. She’s authored several books—including The Core, The Question, and The Conversation—that guide parents through the classical trivium.”
“A mother of four and grandmother of three, Leigh’s passion for home education began with homeschooling her own children. She’s authored several books—including The Core, The Question, and The Conversation—that guide parents through the classical trivium.”
“A mother of four and grandmother of three, Leigh’s passion for home education began with homeschooling her own children. She’s authored several books—including The Core, The Question, and The Conversation—that guide parents through the classical trivium.”
“Learn about the works of CS Lewis the stories in the Book of Genesis the meeting of the US Constitution the rise and fall of the Roman Republic or the history of the ancient Christian church”
“Learn about the works of CS Lewis the stories in the Book of Genesis the meeting of the US Constitution the rise and fall of the Roman Republic or the history of the ancient Christian church”