History and Economics   

Bitcoin has been called everything from "digital gold" to "a passing fad." What's the truth? This class offers a clear, non-technical introduction to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies—what they are, how they work, and why they've captured so much attention.

Together, we'll explore whether this technology could reshape money or simply fade away. We'll explore what money is and how it has evolved over time from commodity money (seashells, coins, paper) to electronic money (wire transfers, credit cards, and peer-to-peer transfer such as Venmo and Zelle), and then explore digital currencies. We'll explore whether Bitcoin is an investment asset, a speculation, or an emerging technology—or all of the above.

Bitcoin has been called everything from "digital gold" to "a passing fad." What's the truth? This class offers a clear, non-technical introduction to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies—what they are, how they work, and why they've captured so much attention.

Together, we'll explore whether this technology could reshape money or simply fade away. We'll explore what money is and how it has evolved over time from commodity money (seashells, coins, paper) to electronic money (wire transfers, credit cards, and peer-to-peer transfer such as Venmo and Zelle), and then explore digital currencies. We'll explore whether Bitcoin is an investment asset, a speculation, or an emerging technology—or all of the above.

Step into a world of fun and nostalgia as we explore the history of play, toys, and games through the ages. This engaging class traces the timeless joy of play, from ancient dice and spinning tops to Victorian dolls, tin soldiers, and board games, all the way to the rise of electronic toys and video games in the modern era. Along the way, we’ll look at how culture, technology, and history shaped the ways children and adults have played and share personal memories of favorite pastimes. Whether you grew up playing Candy Land, jacks, jump rope, Lionel trains or Barbie dolls, this class offers a chance to revisit cherished moments, learn surprising historical stories behind familiar toys, and discover how play has always been a universal part of human life. Quoting Roy Angel, inventor of Pictionary, “Everyone has their own toy box of memories…Let’s open the lid wide open!”

Lately, we have been bombarded with commentary about generational differences. We hear that Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are hogging prime real estate and leadership positions, while Gen X (born 1965-1979) are described as out-of-sight--similar to middle children. Furthermore, Millennials (born 1980-1994) are selfish due to delaying marriage and child-bearing, and Gen Z (born 1995-2012) are said to be pessimistic and unmotivated. Meanwhile, the Silent Generation (born 1925-1945) are...silent!

• Are the popular descriptions of people in those five generations accurate? Or are they about as reliable as horoscopes?
• If there are real differences, what contributed to the variations in attitudes and behaviors?

By reviewing economic, political, and social-cultural events and trends for the decades between 1940 and 2020, we will confirm actual differences associated with generational groups while identifying contributors to those deviations. This course will involve active group discussions and conclusions.

William F. Halsey was, quite possibly, the most popular admiral in U.S. Navy history during World War II. His aggressive risk-taking throughout the war led to U.S. victories at Guadalcanal, Midway (even though he was hospitalized), numerous island landings, and Leyte Gulf, culminating in the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Questions surround Halsey’s actions at Leyte Gulf and during Typhoon Cobra, however. Was he lured from a desperate battle by a Japanese decoy fleet? Did he hold too long before releasing his ships to return to the San Bernardino Strait? Did his actions lead to the loss of men and vessels both at Samar and in Typhoon Cobra?

Over the course of eight weeks, we’ll touch on those parts of the Pacific War that drove the U.S. to Leyte Gulf and see how even heroes can make mistakes--mistakes which may be saved by selfless acts of courage and sacrifice by others.

Recommended text: James D. Hornfischer, Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

Sicily has been a mythic crossroads of heroes, conquerors, and culture for over 3,000 years. From Odysseus and the Arabo-Norman Golden Age to the Mafia and modern mythmakers like Garibaldi and Coppola, Sicily’s story is rich, complex, and central to Western history. This course explores its pivotal role in shaping civilization—and why Goethe famously said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all.”

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. After enrolling, you’ll receive and email inviting you to a Member Orientation on January 7 at noon to review course materials, access your Zoom classroom, and prepare for your first class.

While some leaders have sought power, money, and glory in their pursuits, others like Gandhi, King, and Mandela, chose to lead their oppressed peoples against seemingly invincible power in search of justice and freedom. Rather than earning great wealth, they were imprisoned and, in two cases, assassinated. Why did they do that?

This course will explore several important questions. What was in their makeups and their backgrounds that led them to lead their oppressed peoples in a fight for justice and freedom? What “magic” did they have that led them to harness the support of their peoples? What unique strategies did they use to win against superior power?

And finally, what have been the long-term outcomes of their heroic efforts? What can we learn about leadership from these men? The eight weeks of classes will consist of some lecture, videos, and lots of discussion.

This course will be a combination literature and history class. The book we’ll read is Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel "It Can’t Happen Here." Lewis was the first American recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. He’s well-known for such novels as "Main Street," "Babbitt," "Elmer Gantry," "Arrowsmith," and "Dodsworth." In his 1930 Nobel acceptance speech, Lewis warned that in America, literature was stifled by a “standardization of thought,” and he criticized publishers, critics, and readers who resisted frank portrayals of American life.

In addition to reading Lewis’s book, we’ll take a close look at the history of 1930s America. The 1930s in the United States (in the shadow of the Great Depression and global political upheavals) saw a wide range of extreme political personalities and movements. Among the individuals we’ll examine are Father Coughlin, Huey Long, William Pelley, and Francis Townsend. We’ll also focus on social movements such as the National Union for Social Justice, the American Liberty League, the Silver Legion of America, the German American Bund, America First, Share Our Wealth, and the Communist Party USA.

Required text: Sinclair Lewis: It Can't Happen Here, copyright 1935

This course will be a combination literature and history class. The book we’ll read is Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel "It Can’t Happen Here." Lewis was the first American recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. He’s well-known for such novels as "Main Street," "Babbitt," "Elmer Gantry," "Arrowsmith," and "Dodsworth." In his 1930 Nobel acceptance speech, Lewis warned that in America, literature was stifled by a “standardization of thought,” and he criticized publishers, critics, and readers who resisted frank portrayals of American life.

In addition to reading Lewis’s book, we’ll take a close look at the history of 1930s America. The 1930s in the United States (in the shadow of the Great Depression and global political upheavals) saw a wide range of extreme political personalities and movements. Among the individuals we’ll examine are Father Coughlin, Huey Long, William Pelley, and Francis Townsend. We’ll also focus on social movements such as the National Union for Social Justice, the American Liberty League, the Silver Legion of America, the German American Bund, America First, Share Our Wealth, and the Communist Party USA.

Required text: Sinclair Lewis: It Can't Happen Here, copyright 1935

The origin of Judeo-Christian values that cemented the foundation of Western Civilization must be studied and understood in order to preserve these values for the future. This series of lectures will cover Jewish history, addressing the major points of positive and negative intersections with Christianity and their complex relationship. The series will emphasize that Judaism and Christianity have more commonalities than divisions. The topics will cover Biblical and post-Biblical Jewish history through the First and the Second Temples, the history of the diaspora, the birth of Christianity, the interplays between the Church and Synagogue in antiquities, Renaissance, Middle Ages through Reformation up to the Enlightenment and finally, modern times. The goals of this series of lectures are to build a better understanding of the shared history and shared values within the Judeo-Christian world in order to construct bridges to a common future for many generations to come.

Recommended texts: 1) Max I. Dimont. Jews, God, and History. 2)Paul Johnson. A History of the Jews. 3) A.N. Wilson. Jesus: A Life. 4) James Carroll. Constantine’s Sword.

America is a single nation but made up of states, of regions, and of peoples. Increasingly, we talk about regional differences based on religion, ethnicity, and national origin. How did these regions arise? Why do they matter? Using Colin Woodard's book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, we will trace the growth of regional differences and attempt to understand their continued influence.

Required text: Colin Woodard, American Nations

While movies, documentaries, and books may seem to portray the German population meekly falling in line with the Nazi agenda, a small percentage stood against the Nazi threat, unaffected by the populist pipe dream. Students such as the White Rose, military officers such as von Stauffenberg, newspapers like the Munich Post, and Jews such as the Herbert Baum Group, Niuta Teitlebaum (Little Wanda), and Roza Robota all stood bravely in the face of death. This class examines the courage needed to stand against mindless tyranny.

This class will explore the causes, events, and legacy of the American Revolution, designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Participants will examine the political, social, and economic forces that led to colonial resistance, from taxation without representation to the rise of revolutionary ideas. We will study key figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, as well as the debates that shaped the movement toward independence. Major battles and turning points, such as Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown, will be analyzed, with attention to military leadership, strategy, and the role of international alliances, particularly France. The class will also consider how revolutionary ideals influenced the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States. Class participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the Revolution transformed thirteen colonies into a new nation and forged a lasting legacy.

Denver has nearly 60 designated historic districts. We will visit them all over this four-week class and explore what each one adds to an understanding of Denver's history and culture. Our first class will cover Denver's Historic Preservation Ordinance and the process and criteria for historic district designation. We'll also look at significant architectural styles of the periods represented in various historic districts. Subsequent classes will look at each historic district and who and what made it significant. Districts are spread throughout Denver, so this is an opportunity to get to know some new parts of town. There are no reading requirements, but a reading guide will be provided.

European empires followed their quest for raw materials into a new world. The advent of the Industrial Revolution transformed that quest into a new appetite for more power. The Road to Imperialism traverses revolutions, philosophical shifts, and global wars. Join Shellie on this road, from 1700-1890, that leads us to the modern world.

Drawing on two decades of portfolio management and retirement advising, this OLLI course shows what truly works—and what doesn't—when your savings need to last. You'll get practical, real-world lessons on simple rules for building a resilient investment portfolio, income strategies, spotting and avoiding high-fee investments that underperform, and examples of mistakes that have cost retirees time and money. The emphasis is on usable steps and plain-English explanations you can evaluate for your own situation. We'll also explore a mindset shift that reduces stress about market swings by reframing decisions around income needs, time horizons, and tolerable risk instead of daily price movements. Along the way, Eric will introduce a few lesser-known asset types and professional techniques—explained so they're understandable and actionable—that can play a thoughtful role in retirement planning when used appropriately. Bring your questions and specific scenarios; the session is designed to leave you more confident and better prepared to make practical investing choices for retirement.

Money. We work for it, chase it, save it, spend it, win it, and lose it. But do you know what money really is, how and why it was invented, who controls it, how it affects history and the economy, and what the future holds? This is the Story of Money. Depending on time and class interest, we will explore what money really is, early forms of currency, paper currency, the Gold Standard and fiat currency, the banking system, the Federal Reserve, inflation, and the future of money, including cryptocurrency.

No class on 2/16, President's Day.

Money. We work for it, chase it, save it, spend it, win it, and lose it. But do you know what money really is, how and why it was invented, who controls it, how it affects history and the economy, and what the future holds? This is the Story of Money. Depending on time and class interest, we will explore what money really is, early forms of currency, paper currency, the Gold Standard and fiat currency, the banking system, the Federal Reserve, inflation, and the future of money, including cryptocurrency.

No class on 2/16, President's Day.

The 1930s were a decade of uncertainty and dramatic change in the US and throughout the world. In this course, we will use Timothy Egan's book The Worst Hard Time as a jumping-off point to explore many of the events that defined the 1930s. A few of the topics we will touch on include: the Dust Bowl, the stock market crash, the New Deal, economic protectionism, American isolationism, the westward migration, and the effects of the depression on everyday life and family dynamics.

Required text: Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time

"The Yanks Are Coming!" The Allies on the Western Front were exhausted. Three years of hard and bitter fighting drained the countries of their finest men. Casualties were appalling. Poison gas, machine guns, and artillery caused a stalemate that resulted in trench warfare. "Over the Top" was the cry, but it meant walking into a hail of bullets and shells. New blood and new ideas were needed. Could the Yanks supply both? With Russia now out of the war, the Germans could move their troops from the Eastern Front to the West and attack one last time. Battles such as Meuse-Argonne, Belleau Wood, and others led to the final collapse of the German forces. We end the class with a look at the Versailles Treaty. It was supposed to solve the problems that caused the war and prevent another from ever happening again. How did it fail?

“The Yanks Are Coming!” The Allies on the Western Front were exhausted. Three years of hard and bitter fighting drained the countries of their finest men. Casualties were appalling. Poison gas, machine guns, and artillery caused a stalemate that resulted in trench warfare. “Over the Top” was the cry but it meant walking into a hail of bullets and shells. New blood and new ideas were needed. Could the Yanks supply both? With Russia now out of the war, the Germans could move their troops from the Eastern Front to the West and attack one last time. Battles such as the Meuse Argonne, Belleau Woods, and others led to the final collapse of the German forces. We end the class with a look at the Versailles Treaty. It was supposed to solve the problems that caused the war and prevent another from ever happening again. How did it fail?