Lehigh Valley Humanists

Note: All the upcoming books and those that we didn’t select in the February vote are listed at the bottom of this section.

May: Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones

From a small town in Mexico to the boardrooms of Big Pharma to main streets nationwide, an explosive and shocking account of addiction in the heartland of America.
In 1929, in the blue-collar city of Portsmouth, Ohio, a company built a swimming pool the size of a football field; named Dreamland, it became the vital center of the community. Now, addiction has devastated Portsmouth, as it has hundreds of small rural towns and suburbs across America--addiction like no other the country has ever faced. How that happened is the riveting story of Dreamland.
With a great reporter's narrative skill and the storytelling ability of a novelist, acclaimed journalist Sam Quinones weaves together two classic tales of capitalism run amok whose unintentional collision has been catastrophic. The unfettered prescribing of pain medications during the 1990s reached its peak in Purdue Pharma's campaign to market OxyContin, its new, expensive--extremely addictive--miracle painkiller. Meanwhile, a massive influx of black tar heroin--cheap, potent, and originating from one small county on Mexico's west coast, independent of any drug cartel--assaulted small town and mid-sized cities across the country, driven by a brilliant, almost unbeatable marketing and distribution system. Together these phenomena continue to lay waste to communities from Tennessee to Oregon, Indiana to New Mexico.
Introducing a memorable cast of characters--pharma pioneers, young Mexican entrepreneurs, narcotics investigators, survivors, and parents--Quinones shows how these tales fit together. Dreamland is a revelatory account of the corrosive threat facing America and its heartland.

Kevin will be moderating this month. Hope you can join us for some thoughtful discussion.

Upcoming books: (June is the next book selection month.)
June: Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It by Richard V. Reeves (Steve)
July: We the Men: How Forgetting Women's Struggles for Equality Perpetuates Inequality by Jill Elaine Hasday (Steve)

Not selected this time:
Humanism: Five Values for Living Well by David B McLaughlin
Satan's Silence: Ritual Abuse and the Making of a Modern American Witch Hunt Paperback by Debbie Nathan and Michael Snedeker
High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History by Paul Farmer

Religion affects everyone's lives, even if they are not direct participants. But religion is one of those taboo topics not welcome in "polite society."
I was an online Recovering From Religion Support Group leader during covid. I heard many heartbreaking stories about childhood religious events, and difficult religious issues within and between families.

I've volunteered to host a monthly LVH zoom for open-ended, frank discussions of the impact of organized religion in all of our lives. The focus will not be on proving or disproving the validity of religious history or dogma.

This is not a debate, or designed to provide advice or solutions. Any attempts to promote any religious beliefs is not permitted. It will be a safe space for us to share our concerns or struggles with the implications of religion in our personal lives.

Because we are speaking very personally, I will require participants to use their live video in order to join in. The discussion is not guided: Everyone is welcome to bring their own stories, with an emphasis on compassionate understanding.

I've taken over this monthly event for the Lehigh Valley Humanists group. We'll meet near the big tree by the parking lot at Li'l-Le-Hi Trout Nursery and work on Fish Hatchery Road. I'll provide reflective vests, bags, and grabbers (but feel free to bring your own). The road has typically been divided into three sections, depending on number of attendees. The more people who come, the quicker it goes!

The problem with cleaning up litter is that there's always more. Do your best! If something is too far or heavy, leave it.

Optional: I'm planning on going to Cali Burrito after. Come join!