BetterPears
In 2022, BetterPears was founded to provide a renewal of culture by connecting adult learners to the wisdom of the ancients in its original language. The central work of BetterPears is the development of such reading fellowships meeting face to face. BetterPears Preserves is our blog and podcast project. BetterPears Greenhouse Fellowships are our participatory dramatic reading sessions of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays. BetterPears Market is your home for BetterPears merchandise and our BetterPears CSA (Community Supported Analysis) will allow you to assist in bringing more of our content to market. Furthermore, BetterPears does not sell actual pears despite the entire website being structured and branded like such a business.
What is with the name?
In the second book of his Confessions, St. Augustine of Hippo wrote:
Et ego furtum facere volui et feci nulla compulsus egestate nisi penuria et fastidio iustitiae et sagina iniquitatis. Nam id furatus sum, quod mihi abundabat et multo melius…(II, 4.9)
The context is an incident in his youth when in the company of boys given to wickedness, stole pears from a neighbor’s property. As an adult, indeed a Catholic bishop, St. Augustine reflects that he would not have committed this crime and sin if he had kept better company. It was not out of want or hunger that he stole, for at his nearby home he had better pears in abundance.
BetterPears was founded to offer better fruit for the human soul, the wisdom of our betters, in their original words, in the company of good friends.
The BetterPears Team
Inspired by the witness of St. Augustine, we seek the rest for which our heart was made.
Founder and Owner
Guides Wanted
Interested candidates should send a letter of introduction to jason@betterpears.com
BetterPears Preserves
Find posts from our contributors on topics such as education, culture, philosophy, theology, and language.
The BetterPears Podcast
Find spoken audio essays of corresponding Preserves posts. Select podcast episodes include a custom dedication from a BetterPears Supporter.
BetterPears Greenhouse Fellowships
Greenhouse Fellowships are participatory dramatic reading sessions of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays. These in-person events are held in the Oklahoma City metro-area.
BetterPears Fellowships
The idea that inspired BetterPears, reading the Church Fathers and the great thinkers of antiquity in their own words in the company of good friends. BetterPears Fellowships are currently in development.
Get in touch
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
BetterPears 