YALLA ARABI is an Arabic language and culture meetup group that serves the San Francisco and East Bay area. NO ARABIC LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED. Everyone is welcome! Ahlan Wa Sahlan! We invite people from ALL backgrounds and ALL levels of Arabic experience to participate. We learn Arabic in fun, interactive and supportive ways by using collaborative activities and instructor-led exercises. We also watch Arabic films, eat at Arabic restaurants and attend Arab cultural events. We heart …

I'm hoping to combine two things that I love: Literature and discussion about literature that takes place in a relaxed cafe atmosphere (nothing too fancy here & drinking is optional). A nice way to meet other literature lovers and smart conversationalists. Come and join the fun and expand your horizons a bit when it comes to literature! I need motivation at times to complete my reading list and maybe you do too? I'm a fan of classic literature (think Aeschylus, Dostoyevsky, Mann, Balzac, Cervant …

We are a group of people who love French literature and love to discuss it, mostly in French but discussion in English is also welcome. The group contains a mixture of native francophones and advanced students of French. We meet every two months starting with January, on the first Sunday of the month. At present, we alternate meetings between Berkeley and San Francisco. We choose the reading selections for the year by a democratic member nomination and voting process. You can find the list of bo …

This group is for people who are seeking to establish deep spiritual friendships both with others, and with themselves. We will commit to co-creating an atmosphere that offers deep listening, unwavering compassion -- and potentially life-altering challenge to the status quo. This ongoing group will explore and practice ways to 1) Access our deepest wisdom, and 2) More completely integrate and embody that wisdom in all aspects of our lives. In this process, we’ll draw respectfully from many s …

Meet other apocalypse sci fi lovers over drinks at various cozy bars in the city! Each month we will read a book with an apocalyptic setting picked by either the organizer or voted upon by members. P.S. Some people have asked about what the 1.00 fee is/how is it used.... Most meetup events charge a low fee because meetup costs to start a group. (when an organizer makes a group they have to pay before it is posted. This fee helps reimburse me for the money I paid, as well as cutting down on …

SF in SF - Science Fiction, San Francisco A Perfect Fit! www.sfinsf.org We host monthly author events and films at the Variety Screening Room at 582 Market Street @2nd & Montgomery, SF 94104. Since 2005 we've been featuring authors and films that focus on the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and related literary genres.  Previous guests include Cory Doctorow, Rudy Rucker, Patrick Rothfuss, Gail Carriger, Lev Grossman, Steven Gould, Robert J. Sawyer, Kage Baker, Mary Robinette Kowal, Carol Emshw …

Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, not necessarily in that order, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and non-western, these are the works we discuss. The discussion is what is most important. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human.

Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, not necessarily in that order, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and non-western, these are the works we discuss. The discussion is what is most important. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human.

Greetings. There is hardly anything I enjoy more than to read a good book and discuss it among thoughtful individuals! How about you? Please join if you are interested in being an active participant in a book club focused **exclusively** on classic literature, shown on the following lists below, that has stood the test of time. If not interested exclusively in classic lit, if not willing to stick to selections from the lists below, there will not be a match with this group.  The good news is tha …

Have you ever heard of Naked Girls Reading? It’s a group of ladies who enjoy giving readings of various works to a large audience au naturel. The group originated in Chicago two years ago when the founder’s husband caught his naked wife lying in repose focused intently on her book. At that moment, both agreed that there was something amazingly powerful about reading sans culottes. As a PhD literature grad student and a nudist, I have been doing this for years! And now, I think it’s the perfect t …

Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina, A Tale of Two Cities......this group is for anyone who wants to re-visit classics such as these or explore them for the first time. This will be a casual book club and anyone with an interest in classic fiction is welcome! We will vote on our selection each month (except for the first). This group will not be a formal affair with prepared questions, etc. Instead, we will have a free-flowing discussion about the read over food and libations (if you so desire).

We read and discuss books that are rooted in or inspired by history in all its shapes and colors. Fiction and non-fiction, both scholarly and popular. Stories that re-create the past. Journalists who tell us "what happened". Interpreters who openly argue a point of view or seek to illuminate the present through the past. There are also many opportunities to leave our armchairs for fun history-focused field trips to museums, walking tours, films, theater, author lectures, etc. For our book discus …

This is a meetup for queer-identifying folks to get together and read books together, talk about them, and socialize. (But we won't discriminate against any straight allies that may want to participate!) Books read  in this meetup group will include multiple genres, and group participants will help decide what books will be read. While it is a queer-targeted book club, we will not be limited to queer-themed material (though such literature will have its place, as few other book clubs will incorp …

Corvid College is an experiment in education. In place of bureaucracy we have conviviality, instead of tests we have experiments, we do not have grades but glasses full of wine, and instead of authoritarian models of learning we have horizontalism in action. Without all of the obligations, expenses, and unnecessary paperwork that has turned collegiate education into hassle castle, Corvid is the new model for liberated education. Past courses include: Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! Cult, Culture, “ …

So what's the worst part of most book groups? Being forced to read a book you simply don't want to read. And what's the best part: getting all those great book recommendations! In this meet up, we're going to dispense with the book *reading* and go straight to the recommending ... and we'll do it with a game I call the "Book Auction". Each participant brings 2 of their favorite books (1 fiction, 1 non-fiction) -- these can be books off your shelf, or new purchases from a store. At the door, ever …

The purpose of this meet-up group is to take a step out of the modern world, our modern stresses and to get out in nature's finest. This could be backpacking, hiking, camping, and the occasional happy hours as well as other various random activities we can come up with. This is low pressure discussion based group, meaning the intent is chill and easy going, collaborative and will grow organically. Discussion topics could include anything of interest (from philosophy, literature, to the cosmos an …

Show and Tell meets Book Club

I am a graduate student finishing an MFA in Creative Writing at Goddard College. I love leading groups and being in the company of people who want to explore the world through writing and reading. This July I'm leading a writing workshop for two weeks in mid- July M, W, F with the hopes it might spin into something more. WHAT Family Matters: Fiction and Memoir Six 21/2 hour sessions helping you mine your family history as well as the histories of others for rich material. Explore creative writin …

We are Latinas in the East Bay interested in friendship, socializing, networking and supporting each other. Open to all who are new to the bay, those who were born and raised here, and everything in between.  This group is for those who want to expand their circle of friends with other Latinas who can share and relate to their life experiences, goals and interests.

There are several Meetup book clubs in the East Bay, but many of them are specialized (e.g., women-only, we only read such-and-such books, etc.), or their meetings fill to capacity so fast that I never get a chance to rsvp - so I decided to start this one. I previously participated in a fantastic book club in Chicago, which gave me the opportunity to read some great books that I probably wouldn't have found on my own. I hope to continue that trend here! This is a mixed-gender book club for anyon …

I am new to San Francisco from the east coast and looking to meet some new girlfriends. I started and was a member of a book club in New Jersey and loved it. This group is for ladies only (sorry boys) in their 20s/early 30s who are looking to meet some new friends and share their love of reading. After all, there is nothing like a good book to start a conversation! And of course, a few cocktails will be involved. Looking for some fun, chilled out ladies who want to make great friends and have go …

Ladies of the Book Club is perfect for queer, lesbian, bi-sexual, open-minded individuals who enjoy reading a variety of books and delving into provocative conversation about characters, plot, parallels to history and society, symbolism, and meaning. We will create a group of people who are excited about meeting monthly to build new friendships through insightful, creative, intellectual, and fun discussions.

This group is for anyone in the San Francisco Bay Area who is interested in literary events such as: poetry readings, book signings, lectures, Litquake, etc. Non-fiction and fiction topics will be explored and we plan to run the gamut from lowbrow nightlife events to scholarly. Anyone is welcome to join if you are fun, want to interact with others and have an open mind. Please do not e-mail me for the sole purpose of promoting yourself or your event. Group policies: If you RSVP yes, please show …

This get-together is for individuals looking for a place to re-center after a busy week, participate in a discussion about an inspirational book, and enjoy some good food. I reside in a rather cozy apartment with minimal furniture, so be prepared to sit on the floor! Instead of asking for donations, I thought it would be much more enjoyable if members arrived with a small dish (nothing fancy) or beverage (no alcohol, please). Book recommendations are welcomed with open arms. I look forward to me …

Confidence Builders towards Enlightenment: is a multi-disciplinary group that covers a range of diverse interest. The group meets and engages in a challenge each session. The concept of the winner takes all, is a perk. I believe to develop and build confidence the MIND must contiuously be challenged. The participants will brainstorm and develop critical thinking exercises, and we will also have light sessions where we share in our creativity. For the poet in us, we share poetry, creative writing …

For those of us who didn't go into academics in the humanities but wonder what it's like to teach a class, this Meetup is a chance to explore that road untraveled. Here's the idea: every month (or week?), one member makes up a syllabus for a class -- you know, like the ones we got in college, with the title of the course, a brief description, a reading list, an outline of the course's structure, maybe even the titles of individual lectures, etc. Print it out, make copies, distribute it at the me …

You're Invited. Informal ZEN picnic, Sunday noon, May 26 (Memorial weekend) on lawn under cherry trees round from Japanese Tea Garden Gate, Golden Gate Park. Bring snacks & share. Say Hi. No food restrictions, it's all good. Bring short poems, haiku & flutes to resonate. Sit in a circle & snack & sip & say Ah-Ha. Been to Japan? Raise hand & go first. Have Zen stories? Tell them last - you've got patience. Then float away on a better day. Zen memories: no owner, no author, no never mind.

Hi there fellow 40-somethings, I created this group when I first moved to Marin County from Southern California and it was a great way to make friends. Now I'm in Berkeley and wanted to start one here. The name of the group speaks for itself, I don't stick with a theme of books to read; one month we may read a mystery, another month a classic, the next...well, you get the idea! We'll have one scheduled book club meeting each month and I'll also schedule meetups in between to attend a literature …