Eligible Works

Our club welcomes all forms of literature, including:

• Traditional books and novels
• Nonfiction works
• Poetry collections
• Individual poems
• Short stories
• Plays and screenplays
• Essays
• Any other written works that promote thoughtful discussion. 

We’re also considering expanding to include other media forms, such as films, in the future.

Categories

Works typically align with one or more of these categories:

• Classical literature forms our foundation of shared cultural knowledge. 
• Philosophical and artistic works challenge our understanding of existence and meaning. 
• Scientific works, whether papers, essays, or books, help us grasp our world’s complexities. 
• Social and political commentary pushes us to examine our society critically. 
• Cultural, religious, and mythological texts connect us to human traditions across time. 
• Influential genre fiction – from science fiction to romance – shows us new possibilities and perspectives.
• Psychological works explore the depths of human consciousness, behavior, and inner experience, helping us understand both individual minds and shared aspects of human nature.

Works outside these categories are welcome if they offer substantial depth, complex themes, or intellectual merit. Above all, recommendations should be thoughtful – we trust your judgment in making these selections.

List Philosophy

Our reading list aims to balance foundational works of literature with diverse voices across cultures, backgrounds, time periods, and experiences. Whether we’re discussing centuries-old classics or contemporary works from traditionally underrepresented authors, what matters most is the depth of insight and potential for meaningful discussion. This balanced approach allows us to engage with influential traditional works while also ensuring we’re not limiting ourselves to a narrow slice of human perspective and literary excellence.

A Note on Translations

For translated works, we encourage discussion of different translations when available. Noting which translation you’re reading can enrich our conversations about linguistic choices and interpretations. Some works can vary significantly between translations, which often leads to fascinating discussions about the choices translators make and how they affect our reading experience.

Content in Our Reading

We read challenging literature that often contains mature themes and potentially sensitive content. Since book club leaders are typically experiencing the book alongside everyone else, we don’t provide advance content warnings. Members should approach our selections with an understanding that classic and contemporary literature often explores difficult subjects. If you have specific concerns about a selected work, feel free to research it independently before reading or ask in the Discord server if others have knowledge about particular content.

you can view our book list here.