Book excerpt: The humanities are alive. We see the great pyramids in contemporary design, we hear Bach in hip-hop and pop music, and we feel ancient religious themes and philoso- phies in our impassioned contemporary dialogues. Experience Humanities invites students to take note of the continual evolution of ideas and cross-cultural influences to better understand the cultural heritage of the West, and to think critically about what their legacy will be for future generations. Together with Connect® Humanities, a groundbreaking digital learning solution, students not only experience their cultural heritage, but develop crucial critical reading, thinking, and writing skills that will prepare them to succeed in their humanities course and beyond.