born Dec. 28, 1902, New York, N.Y., U.S.
died June 28, 2001, San Mateo, Calif.
U.S. philosopher, educator, and editor.
He earned a doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University (1928) and taught philosophy of law from 1930 at the University of Chicago, where with Great Books of the Western World (1952); for {{link=Encyclop%C3%A6dia Britannica">Encyclopædia Britannica , Inc., they edited an annual, The Great Ideas Today (from 1961), and the 10-volume Gateway to the Great Books (1963). In 1969 Adler became director of planning for the 15th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica , published in 1974. His many books include How to Read a Book (1940), How to Think About God (1980), Six Great Ideas (1981), and Ten Philosophical Mistakes (1985).