If you can't find a leftist book club, make one! And pick a book that resonates with your personal experiences, it will resonate with others too!
Or an essay!
Or a comic!
Or a show!
Or a movie!
I've started one with some friends and it is the most catharsis I've had in years. I also am involved in an org too, so it isnt just the "oh cool im actually doing something" itch being scratched. I think it has something to do with doing intellectual labor in a non-atomized setting. The fact that the book is marxist and is allowing us to articulate profound feelings we've always had about society and our place in it is a major bonus.
When a book club works, it is at the same time the best way to learn theory, an incredible confidence booster, and a great source of hope and love for humanity. Highly recommended.
I'm in 3 book clubs rn. It's worth mentioning a few points for people who like the idea but think they don't know enough of the right people to get something like this going:
•a book club does not have to be formal. It can be a one-off thing that you think people might be interested in
•it the minimum number for a fruitful discussion is 2. I've had friends mention they're reading something that's on my list and I just say "hey I'm interested in that - you want to book club that together?" Never heard a no from that offer.
•denser non-fiction is more fruitful to break into sections with multiple meetings, but you have to have a committed group for that to work
•you are not the only one feeling alienated rn. People want to be invited to things. Covid smashed everyone's social patterns and a lot of people never rebuilt theirs. They're at home rn looking at their phone or watching YouTube feeling like they'd be putting themselves too far out there to invite their friends to do anything.
•don't be fussy or precious about the text. There are things to learn from Piketty, Trotsky, even Hayek. Put in the work and then when you want to recommend a title that's more in line with your tendency you've set expectations for the group.
•if you really don't have any friends who you think would be interested try Meetup, or the library, or a radical bookstore, or a local left org.
