Do you want to explore off-limits books, provocative ideas, and the great works of literary canon, without needing to sacrifice hours of your week for reading and review?
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the “No-Read” Dangerous Book Club. A weekly book club meeting for those who want to explore new and intellectually stimulating ideas without hours of weekly homework.
Here’s how it works:
Every other week, I’ll summarize a work of fiction or non-fiction I’ve recently read that presents a unique, “dangerous”, or insightful perspective that helps us make sense of our current time. Works will be contemporary, historical, fascinating, and uncommon.
If you want to read “Atomic Habits” or “10 Habits for Highly Effective Adults”, this is not the book club for you.
A review of the work will be released to paid subscribers each week on either a Thursday or Friday, followed by a group discussion over Zoom on Saturday (8 am - 9:30 am PST). Links to each week’s meeting will be posted in the article review of the previous days(s). Once you read the weekly summary, you will have enough information to be able to understand and participate in our group discussion without having to read the work. Each discussion will begin with a short recap of the book summary, followed by a Socratic-style dialogue with participating members. The books I choose will not require an in-depth knowledge of a particular subject to understand. I aim to find that line between common knowledge and the universal themes of human nature. More than anything, I want these discussions to be fun, enlightening, and to foster an intellectual community between paying members. All viewpoints are welcome.
I am choosing a bi-weekly format for two reasons. One, it takes considerable energy to read these books and to summarize the primary themes and topics for group discussion. Two, those who are unable to attend one meeting due to scheduling conflicts will have the opportunity to participate the following week. However, each week will be slightly different. I will not be reading off a script or have a Draconian structure I will abide by. Those who attend a discussion in the first week, will not be hearing a simple re-hashing in the next. Each week will be unique.Current paid subscribers will be granted access to the Dangerous Book Club through their current payment plan. If you subscribed to Write & Lift before March 25th, your monthly rate will not change until this time next year.
For those who wish to join the Dangerous Book Club, monthly subscriptions will start at $12 a month. This includes book summaries and weekly access to each book club meeting.
However, as interest increases in the future, I do plan on raising prices. So if you’re interested in joining, now is the best time.The works I am choosing will be controversial. But only in the sense that the primary themes and lessons shed light on aspects of our human nature that may be somewhat uncomfortable or taboo. While you may have read some, I aim to explore works that have flown under the radar. Forgotten books that were influential in their time, books from “canceled” thinkers, books that light a fire under you.
Our first discussion will be about Andrew Roberts’, Napoleon: A Life, a fascinating, fair, and comprehensive biography of the French leader. We will be discussing what makes a “great man”, when ambition becomes dangerous, the blindspot of family, and the modern-day misconceptions about Napoleon.
If you are interested in joining click the link at the bottom of this page. The first Dangerous Book Club essay will be released this Thursday with a group discussion on Saturday at 8 am PST to follow. Details on how to join the discussion will be detailed in Thursday’s essay.
I look forward to seeing you there!
As always, thanks for reading
-Joe