# Harvard humanities course attracts twice as many applicants as places for intensive reading and writing

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/brutal-harvard-class-where-students-are-expected-to-read-a-full-classic-novel-each-week-becomes-huge-hit-with-digital-devices-banned-and-attendance-strictly-monitored/
- Published: 2026-10-28T16:00:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T16:18:04+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16245637/Brutal-Harvard-class-huge-hit-novels.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Harvard’s demanding HUM 10 course has drawn more applicants than places.
- Students read as many as 800 pages a week.
- The course centres on close reading, discussion and writing without devices.

## Summary

Harvard’s HUM 10, a demanding humanities course built around close reading and writing, has become popular despite requiring students to put away electronic devices, attend every class and tackle substantial weekly reading. Its appeal reflects students’ interest in sustained engagement with literature and ideas at a time when some feel those habits are under pressure.

The course admits 90 students, while more than 180 freshmen have applied in recent years, according to the article. Students read 13 books over about 14 weeks, with weekly assignments reaching 800 pages or more, and take part in lectures, seminars and regular essay writing. Professor David Elmer and graduate Peggy Urdan said the course’s emphasis on human experience and independent thought cannot be replicated by relying on AI.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.