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I'm Revealing the Book Club Schedule (2024 / 2025)
Published 5 months ago • 6 min read
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Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas
Sneak Peek: New Book Club Schedule 👇🏻
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Hey Reader,
We've had a great first year with The Read Well Book Club. We've read a wide range from Charles Dickens to Seneca the Stoic, and built a quiet online spot without the usual ads and distractions. It's become a great place to make friends who love books as much as you do.
Thinking about joining? Take a look at our reading schedule for the next year (June 2024 to June 2025) below. We've got 10 books lined up for season 2.
There's a small fee of $9 a month to join plus the cost of your books. I've also set up a 30-day free trialif you're interested. This helps cover my costs for software and virtual meeting tools. Plus, you'll know you're supporting a community that values reading slowly, taking notes, and applying the ideas.
Hope to see you in the club soon! Check out the reading schedule and let me know if you're interested.
Alright, let's take a look at the coming season. 👇🏻
“Walking” is an essay by Henry David Thoreau on the relationship between nature and the human spirit. Thoreau reflects on walking as not merely physical exercise, but as a spiritual experience.
The essay encourages us to consider the pace of our lives and the often overlooked beauty of the natural world. Thoreau offers a unique perspective on personal freedom and the ways in which our surroundings can shape our thoughts and actions.
“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius is a series of personal writings by the Roman Emperor, composed as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. This collection of thoughts is grounded in Stoic philosophy, focusing on finding inner peace and understanding the universe by controlling one’s reactions to external events. The text reveals his internal struggles and his attempts to develop his character in the face of duty, power, and his own mortality.
This classic work is worth reading for its timeless wisdom and practical advice on handling the challenges of life. Aurelius’s reflections encourage self-discipline, ethical living, and the importance of understanding one’s place in the cosmos. His ideas on leadership and responsibility also offer valuable insights for personal growth and the management of complex responsibilities in any era.
“Song of Myself” is a poem from Walt Whitman’s collection “Leaves of Grass,” first published in 1855. This lengthy and vibrant poem stands as one of the cornerstones of American literature, capturing Whitman’s philosophy of life and humanity. It’s an exploration of the self, a celebration of individuality, and a unification of the universal and the specific. Through a free verse structure and a candid, conversational tone, Whitman breaks from traditional poetic forms to embrace a more democratic vision of literature.
Reading “Song of Myself” challenges you to think about identity and the interconnectedness of all beings. The poem also demonstrates the power of the human spirit and the deep connection between the individual and the collective. Whitman’s reflections on nature, society, and mortality offer insight into the human condition that is as relevant today as it was in the 19th century.
“Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” is a seminal work by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi that explores the concept of achieving deep, fulfilling engagement in life’s activities. The central thesis of the book is the identification and examination of the state of “flow”—a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to absolute absorption in an activity. Csikszentmihalyi argues that this state of flow is the key to finding true satisfaction in various aspects of life, from work to hobbies to interpersonal relationships.
Flow presents a clear and accessible way to understand how and why certain experiences are deeply engaging and satisfying. Moreover, it challenges readers to rethink their daily activities in terms of intrinsic motivation and offers practical advice on cultivating a life filled with optimal experiences.
“Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a psychological drama (and my favorite work of fiction) that delves into the moral dilemmas of Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student in St. Petersburg. This intense novel weaves a tale of crime, guilt, and redemption, exploring the distressing psychological journey of its main character, who contemplates and executes the murder of a pawnbroker. Throughout the narrative, Dostoyevsky masterfully examines the complexities of human consciousness, ethics, and societal expectations.
Reading “Crime and Punishment” challenges readers to think critically about justice, morality, and the capacity for redemption. Dostoyevsky’s exploration of philosophical and religious questions presents a layered and compelling look at the struggle between good and evil within the human soul.
“The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom, is a memoir of faith, resilience, and survival. Set during World War II, it tells the true story of the ten Boom family who, led by their deep Christian faith, turned their home into a refuge, a “hiding place” for Jews fleeing the horrors of the Nazi regime. The narrative chronicles Corrie’s journey from a peaceful life in Haarlem, the Netherlands, to the grim realities of concentration camps, including Ravensbruck, following her family’s arrest in 1944.
Reading “The Hiding Place” is a testament to the impact of compassion and courage against systemic evil. The book not only recounts historical events but also explores themes of forgiveness, the moral complexities of wartime, and the enduring human capacity for hope and renewal.
“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy is a masterpiece of Russian literature, often hailed for its complex narrative and deep exploration of human emotion and society. The novel unfolds in the aristocratic circles of 19th-century Russia and follows the tragic love story of Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky. Parallel to their story runs the tale of Konstantin Levin, a landowner grappling with his own philosophical and existential questions. Tolstoy’s work is renowned for its rich character development and thoughtful commentary on issues ranging from politics and religion to family and fidelity.
Reading “Anna Karenina” is a deeply rewarding experience due to its intricate narrative structure and its exploration of timeless themes such as love, jealousy, faith, and social change. Tolstoy’s ability to dissect his characters’ motivations, coupled with his insights into human nature, makes this novel an essential exploration of the moral struggles that define the human condition.
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig is a blend of a philosophical text and a narrative journey. It recounts a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by the author and his son across the United States, which becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions of how to live. The book explores the concept of “Quality,” a term Pirsig uses to denote excellence and deep value, through a series of philosophical discussions framed by the trip and maintenance of the motorcycle itself.
The book is worth reading not only for its innovative approach to philosophy—making complex ideas accessible and relevant through everyday activities—but also for its exploration of how we can create meaningful lives through the pursuit of Quality. Pirsig’s narrative encourages readers to think about the relationship between technology and quality of life, the meaning of knowledge, and the importance of mindfulness.
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë is a classic novel that remains a significant work in the canon of English literature. This story follows the experiences of its heroine, Jane Eyre, from her painful childhood through to her adulthood as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Mr. Rochester. As a novel, it is celebrated not only for its depth of character development and emotional power but also for its exploration of themes such as social criticism, morality, and the struggles for gender and social equality.
“Jane Eyre” is worth reading for its rich narrative voice, compelling plot, and its early feminist themes, which challenge the status quo of Victorian society. The psychological and moral growth of Jane provides a powerful model of integrity and complex humanity. The novel also offers a sharp critique of the classist, patriarchal values of the 19th century, making it both a captivating story and a thoughtful examination of historical social issues.
“Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst” by Robert Sapolsky is a comprehensive exploration of human behavior. This work is about the biological roots of our actions, examining how neurons, hormones, genes, and evolution contribute to the complexities of human behavior. Sapolsky, a professor of biology and neurology, integrates research from various scientific fields to explain why humans do what they do, from moments before an action takes place back to the evolutionary forces that shaped our species.
“Behave” is worth reading for its multidisciplinary approach that offers insights into the biological underpinnings of behavior that are often overlooked in more psychological or sociological discussions.
In this episode, I dive into how the right book club can transform your reading habits and keep you intellectually engaged. I’ll guide you through selecting a book club that suits your reading style and introduce you to three groups that are ideal for diving into deeper discussions. Plus, don't miss our community announcements segment for local reading events!
Weekly Newsletter on Great Books, Reading Habits, and Literary Appreciation.
Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits.