The BIG IDEAS Book Club

Big ideas don’t live only in books—they come alive when we wrestle with them together. They spark something when they’re questioned, shared, and grounded in real human experience.
Storytelling is where ideas leave the page and enter lived reality, turning concepts into insight and insight into meaningful change. When a story is told with honesty and depth, it invites us not just to think differently, but to see differently.
Storytelling turns concepts into insight, inviting reflection, connection, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Listen closely, and ideas don’t just inform—they resonate, awaken, and stick.
Stories that Stir® events are designed to break down barriers, stir conversation, and inspire positive change.
At each event, six people share a raw and personal story linked to a theme. Themes are juicy, emotive topics such as FREEDOM, TRUTH, EXPECTATIONS, CONNECTION etc.
Audience members rave about how good it feels to spend a lovely evening, listening to other people’s funny, moving, and inspiring stories and how connected to humanity the event makes them feel.
Come and listen to six storytellers, who will each share their 10-minute raw and personal story on the theme BEGINNINGS in all its shapes and forms.
You’ll meet incredible people, maintain and increase your networks, and become known as someone who is doing something outstanding for your community and humanity.
Tickets include a delicious grazing table to enjoy before the storytelling begins. Food allergies are catered to.

Meet your Storytellers:
Twist of Fate – Rowena Robinson
Rowena had a tough start to life growing up in Housing Projects and later moving to the ghetto streets of South Central LA. She was determined to get out of there as she was certain she’d die if she didn’t, but had no idea how she would accomplish this. Sport and gymnastics in particular gave her a chance at a new beginning, not without a huge dose of tenacity and a few miracles thrown in for good measure.

For my Daughters – Victor Simone
Thursday ended perfectly for Victor and his family. Friday started like any other, with Victor heading to work, his wife Liz taking the girls to school, and meeting friends for coffee.
A quick morning call with Liz; and a few hours later, Victor received a call from a friend that changed everything … that day was the beginning of his life as a single parent, shifting priorities and the reinvention of myself.

Is it possible to be too rich? We often celebrate the super-rich as great innovators and heroes of industry — but what if their very existence is making the world less fair and less free? This March, the Big Ideas Book Club takes on a deliberately provocative claim: that billionaires shouldn't exist. It's a radical idea, but one worth examining carefully. The book we'll be discussing argues that this claim isn't driven by envy, but by evidence that extreme wealth undermines democracy, accelerates climate breakdown, rests far more on luck than merit, and diverts resources desperately needed to meet urgent collective challenges. Even if you instinctively disagree, the case is serious, evidence-based, and challenges common assumptions. Join us for a thoughtful, open discussion about wealth, power, and where we might draw the line — and if any billionaires come along, please feel free to buy a round of drinks for the group!

Book: Limitarianism – The Case Against Extreme Wealth (2024) by Ingrid Robeyns

In this month's book, Ingrid Robeyns, a professor of political philosophy and ethics at Utrecht University, builds a case that's both philosophically rigorous and grounded in real-world evidence. She examines how massive fortunes are accumulated—often through inheritance, luck, and public infrastructure rather than individual merit alone—and traces the consequences of that concentration through democratic institutions, climate policy, and social cohesion. Robeyns doesn't just critique; she proposes concrete alternatives, including what a "riches line" (the upper limit on personal wealth) might look like and how such a system could work in practice. Whether you're curious about the ethics of billionaire philanthropy, sceptical about wealth taxes, or wondering how extreme inequality affects everyone (including the super-rich themselves), this book offers a framework for thinking through questions that usually go unexamined. It's written for general readers, not academics, making complex ideas accessible without dumbing them down.

As always, we strongly encourage you to read the book before attending. Having read it will enrich both your experience and our collective discussion. We’ve also put links below to further resources on the topic.

So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 2nd March, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surrey Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail.

We look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to others, especially if there is a waitlist.

P.P.S. Please adjust your email notification settings (particularly the 'Event updates from organizers' in the Big Ideas Book Club settings). This is useful for receiving any final details or late changes to the event.

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These are just optional links to consider. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section.

Audio-Visual

• Presentations and interviews with Robeyns: