Discourse cheers us to companionable reflection. Such reflection neither parades polemical opinions nor does it tolerate complaisant agreement. The sail of thinking keeps trimmed hard to the wind of the matter. -- from "On the Experience of Thinking," Heidegger "Philosophy is not a theory but an activity." -- from "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus," Wittgenstein Join us soon for friendship, cooperative discourse and mental exercise, all organized around an interest in our own engagements …

¡OJO! Este grupo es para lectores comprometidos, activos, y voraces. El Círculo de Lectores Chicago fue creado para discutir libros contemporáneos populares en español. Eso significa que nos enfocamos en novelas recién publicadas (últimos dos o tres años) en español (nada de traducciones) de toda América Latina y España.  El objetivo es divertirse, leer una variedad de libros populares y utilizar el español. Nos reunimos en restaurantes conectados con el libro escogido (ambiente del libro o na …

Anyone can join, whether or not you're a vegan, vegetarian, animal welfare activist, green environmentalist, intellectual, or nerd.  All you need is an interest in what we do. You can see our calendar for animal welfare / animal rights relevant events and nerdy and veg*n stuff: http://www.meetup.com/vegNerds/#calendar We get together for a variety of events. They can be for social, ethical, and / or intellectual purposes. We encourage all members to suggest event ideas, on the Message board, o …

HSVE is almost full.  Registration will close June 1. Please read all the information on this page before requesting to be added to the group.   Then a member of the leadership team will contact you. Home School Village Enrichment HSVE is committed to providing Christian families with a high quality, low cost enrichment program that compliments the home schooling experience and provides a safe and nurturing environment for children and their families to grow in learning and fellowship with other …

Have you ever wanted to read the books you hear everyone talking about? Here's your chance! Anyone is welcome to this casual monthly book group. Each month, we'll have an informal discussion of that month's selection. Togther we will choose next month's book. Suggestions welcome!

What would happen if you took a culinary club full of fun foodies and added gourmet reading and travel? Join us for exciting culinary and literary adventures here in Chicago and around the world!  If you enjoy eating, reading, writing, cooking, dining out, reviewing great restaurants and immersing yourself in fascinating new cultures and cuisines, Litereati is for you. Whether you're a professional chef, a food blogger or just someone who enjoys good food and good books shared with friends, you' …

Chicago Black Literature Book Club seeks to bring together both women and men who enjoy thought-provoking black literature -- both modern and contemporary -- to partake in discussion, debate and dining!

Registration is OPEN for 2013-14 year! Cornerstone is a private Christ-centered cooperative group designed to offer enrichment classes for Preschool-8th grades homeschooling families. Ephesians 2:19-22 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy …

This group started in May 2011, and we've read novels by Joyce, Malraux, Kafka, Wright, Mishima, Faulkner, Nabokov, Unamuno, Ellison, Hamsun, Woolf, Biely, Gide, and many others.  We try to have a good time discussing the books without descending to small talk, think critically without descending to pedantry, etc. Also, as the title shows, we've expanded our reading list since the group started.  We don't really want to title the group something as vague as "Chicago Literature Group," etc., and …

Looking for like-minded folks who dig super-contemporary fiction and are dying to talk books! If you read newer stuff like Murakami, Junot Diaz, Jonathan Franzen, DFW, Jennifer Egan (also the best of non-fiction) I think you'll like us. Meetings are once a month in the Ukrainian Village / blue line area. Guys and ladies 25-40ish who are serious about reading and want awesome book club selections, please join!

Do you like conventions about Science Fiction? Fantasy? Gaming? Anime? Horror? Odd stuff in general? The Chicago Conventions group is designed to get people together at conventions and at certain other related events to meet and have fun. Check out the Calendar! Note posts will be created on the calendar about all of the conventions (that I know of) in the Chicago area. If you know of other conventions not listed, send a message to the organizer Leane with whatever details you have and it will g …

A book club for mystery lovers! We will read new authors as well as the classics. Explore what makes a great mystery. Socialize and have fun.

Meet local Spanish language and culture lovers for conversation, cultural exchange, and fun in Chicago! Come to a Spanish Fanaticos Meetup event and make new amigos while speaking in Spanish, learning new vocabulary, putting your grammar knowledge into practice and/or simply brushing up your Spanish skills! Some of our events include: Spanish Grammar and Literature Workshops, Social Networking Events, Happy Hours, Dinners, Coffee Time, Hikes, Picnics, Movie Nights, Dancing and more. All ages and …

Self Enquiry Life Fellowship is a US based Nonprofit stablished to preserve and disseminate indigenous knowledge from the ancient Sanskrit heritage, including extant literature, spiritual practices of Vedic antiquity, esoteric Himalayan yoga and meditation techniques of unbroken lineages. The Nonprofit aims to make accessible through its educational publishing projects, the spiritual philosophy passed down by the monastic lineages of Himalayan masters and intonated Sanskrit hymns meant for subl …

This is a new group for women that are interested in reading new releases and classic literature. We will begin by meeting at Barnes & Noble Cafe' at Geneva Commons. I chose a book for our first meeting at it is: "an Invisible Thread" by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski. Please bring suggestions for next books to the first gathering.  Discussion questions are at the end of the book.

Love good wine, reading books, & discussing ideas with other friendly people? Then come join us at our monthly discussions while enjoying wine at House Red! The goal is to have fun discussing & sharing our thoughts & ideas on the literature we've read over glasses of wine. The group is new (Spring 2012) & was started with a small group that met at a wine bar. We're growing now & would like to welcome new members. I've noticed many groups are women only; we aren't gender restrictive, but you must …

Inspired by Kinna Reads' Africa Reading Challenge, I decided to create an offline space to share my newfound appreciation for African literature. If you are interested in reading books from the African diaspora (with emphasis on authors from Africa and the Caribbean), join us! Check us out on Tumblr: http://CHI-ReadingAfrica.tumblr.com & on GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/87568-chicago-reading-africa

As Dr. A.R Bernard says, "we don't grow in isolation, we grow in community". This group is being formed to create a community of African American women in the SW suburbs of Chicago. We have a lot to share...friendship, wisdom, kindness, laughter and FUN!. Let's get together to enjoy some great books, fab food, shows, travel, and other excellent adventures. If you are a mature woman who is married or single, working or retired, you are welcome. Just be positive minded and open to new friendships. …

Have you read the Fifty Shades books by E.L. James? Multiple times? If you'd like to talk about Anastasia and Christian with other devotees, please join us. We'll delve into the characters, plot lines, and what makes these books so compelling to so many people.

We meet twice a month to discuss designated during the taping of Insight Radio.  (If you have not listened, here is the last show:  Insight Radio is looking for guests for our next show on current events.  Here are recent shows: Guest: Fran Hawthorne, Author of Ethical Chic: The Inside Story of the Companies We Think We Love. Award-winning journalist Fran Hawthorne has been a writer or editor at Fortune, BusinessWeek, Institutional Investor, Crane's and other publications. She is the author of …

Is your body or your mind telling you that it's time for a tune-up? Do you already have a yoga and meditation practice that you would like to breath new life into? Or... have you reeeally been meaning to try out that "yoga stuff"? We all seem to agree that everyone is at their own point on the path toward wellness. However, the less obvious truth is that there are many people within your own community who are at the exact same point as you are; ready to begin, but unsure about how to do so! Whet …

This group is for people interested in getting together to read, analyze, and discuss current scientific literature about environmental health, with a particular focus on the intersection between environmental health and maternal and child health, but not exclusively. Issues such as climate change, built environment, and occupational health are all interesting and important topics we may cover. For each meeting we will all pre-read the same article from the scientific literature. One person each …

This a book club based around the Persephone Books series from the UK (for more info: http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/). If you're not familiar with Persephone Books, they are fiction and non-fiction books written by forgotten female authors of the twentieth century and they are amazing! If you are into feminism, literature, history and/or anglophilia, you should join us! PLEASE NOTE: Participation in the club will probably require a small investment in purchasing the books each month (they are …

A cultural, intellectual community based on rationality. Meet up for a walk, a drink, to dance, etc... Civil behavior is required, truly creative actions are lauded, criticism is constructive and restrained.  Activities will typically be free to join, the hope is to get enough people to start organizing low intensity group games outside for spring. Anyone for a lovely day of croquet?  let's organize this and make it a BBQ.  Let's bring music!

Vuoi parlare italiano come un madrelingua? Do you want to speak Italian like a native? Se stai cercando un gruppo che ti aiuti a migliorare il tuo italiano... If you are looking for a group that will help you improve your Italian, not only practice what you already know... Questo è il gruppo per te! This is the group for you!! Come and practice your language skills, in a RELAXED setting, with other Italian speakers and enthusiasts, and the SUPERVISION OF A MOTHER-TONGUE TEACHER. The CONVERSATION …

Let's get together to discuss some excellent books over fantastic food. We'll meet monthly on a weeknight in the Evanston/Rogers Park area. No background in lit crit necessary, but we will all try to read the books and have thoughtful insight. And a joy of eating is perhaps a must. Fiction and non-fiction are on the table. Initial book ideas include Fic: The Known World (Edward P. Jones) Tenth of December (George Saunders) Telegraph Avenue (Michael Chabon) Vampires in the Lemon Grove (Karen Russ …

A group for writers in Lake Conty, IL. Write-Ins held on various days at various times and locations. This is not a critique circle, just a group for people with an interest in or passion for writing to get together and write.  All levels welcome from newbies to published authors.

This a book club for women "of a certain age" who love to read and and enjoy a variety of Naperville area eateries.