A great book is smarter than the best teacher, but within reach of the average student. Socratic tutors are not able to stand over the books in judgment of them, but know themselves to be introducing students to a mind that towers over all of them. The tutor may even feel a special burden of intimidation from the text, which the students don’t always feel, because the students see the obvious first hand-holds, and begin the climb. I know what it’s like to teach a book that I understand everything in. Teaching a great book is altogether different.