CJUU Reading Group - Upcoming Meetings in Nov and Jan
After our first two meetings, in which we read The Mechanic and the Luddite (Jathan Sadowski) and How Beautiful We Were (Imbolo Mbe), and following input from participants, the Reading Group is expanding its remit to incorporate reports and papers that are of interest and importance to members.
The first reading suggestion from a group member is the 2026 World Inequality Report. We’ll discuss this report at the next meeting (24th November, 8pm Dublin - register here). The report is 200 pages long! We don't expect people to read all of it - just sections of interest to them (e.g., Chapter 6 - Climate, a Capital Problem). We plan to discuss the report’s implications, and how it can be of use for teaching, campaigning, etc.
After having read How Beautiful We Were - which we felt was a powerful and important, but bleak read - it was suggested that we would read something from the solarpunk/thrutopia genre, which offers positive visions of an alternative future. The book When There Are Wolves Again, by E.J. Swift (2025) has been suggested by a reading group member - we’ll meet to discuss this book on January 12th (8pm Dublin - register here).
Two additional things to share:
- Tressie McMillan Cottom on reading as part of the fight against big tech, and Matt Seybold on reading-related “neuroplasticity as praxis”: "Reading, listening, and having conversations is the plan, and it could be, I believe, a highly effective one, even before it converts into boycotts or protests or electoral campaigns... ...We can read our way out of this mess.” If you agree - please join the reading group! Suggestions for dates, times, and titles are most welcome (clare.kelly@tcd.ie).
- No doubt many are reading Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor’s clarifying and galvanising End Times Fascism (a potential title for a future meeting!). CJUU Convenor Jennie Stephens wrote about the relevance of their analysis for Ireland (“Big Tech’s lapdog”) in the Irish Times this week.