What we’re about
We are a serious but fun group of bibliophiles and read everything from current events and public policy to history, science, and literature and the occasional play, graphic novel, or collection of poems.
Our membership includes individuals of all ages and from a variety of careers and cultural backgrounds. Everyone is welcome to join and we do not promote a particular political or social position and welcome all points of view.
We've got two rules: please read the book before attending a meeting. And please don't RSVP to attend and then no-show. Best,
Andy
apstrike@gmail.com
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- B&B Meeting: The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV2500 Q St NW, Washington, DC$3.00
Everyone, please join us on Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m. to discuss The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV | 426 pp by Helen Castor.
From an acclaimed historian comes an epic tale of power and betrayal: the dual biography of Richard II and Henry IV, two cousins whose tumultuous reigns shaped the course of English history. Richard and Henry, cousins born just three months apart, were ten years old when Richard became king of England. They were thirty-two when Henry deposed him and became king in his place. Their story, the inspiration for one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated history plays, is brought to vivid life.
Castor showcases the enigmatic Richard II, a king who clung to his divine right to rule but lacked the leadership to sustain his throne. His reign, marred by narcissism and disdain for constitutional principles, spiraled into chaos, ultimately leading to his downfall at the hands of his cousin. Enter Henry IV—a stark contrast. Castor portrays him as a chivalric hero, a leader who inspired loyalty and camaraderie. Yet, his journey to the throne was anything but smooth, plagued by rebellion and political turmoil. What makes Castor’s account so compelling is her ability to weave these personal stories into the bigger picture. She explores the turbulent themes of masculinity, identity, and the fragile nature of power, offering a timely reminder of the perils of self-obsessed rulers—and the challenges faced by those who follow in their wake.
Our meetings have a $3 fee, purely to offset the cost of Meetup. This can be paid via Venmo, Paypal, or in cash.
- B&B Meeting: The Cold War: A New History2500 Q St NW, Washington, DC$3.00
Everyone, please join us on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. to discuss The Cold War: A New History | 469 pp by John Lewis Gaddis.
The dean of Cold War historians presents the definitive account of the global confrontation that dominated the last half of the twentieth century. Drawing on newly opened archives and the reminiscences of the major players, John Lewis Gaddis explains not just what happened but why—from the months in 1945 when the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. went from alliance to antagonism to the barely averted holocaust of the Cuban Missile Crisis to the maneuvers of Nixon and Mao, Reagan and Gorbachev. Brilliant, accessible, almost Shakespearean in its drama, The Cold War stands as a triumphant summation of the era that, more than any other, shaped our own.
Our meetings have a $3 fee, purely to offset the cost of Meetup. This can be paid via Venmo, Paypal, or in cash.
- B&B Meeting: Fatherland by Robert Harris2500 Q St NW, Washington, DC$3.00
Everyone, please join us on Monday, August 11 at 7 p.m. to discuss Fatherland | 352 pp by Robert Harris.
The New York Times bestselling classic of alternate history, a murder mystery set in a world where the Nazis won World War II—for fans of The Plot Against America and The Man in the High Castle. Berlin, 1964. The Greater German Reich stretches from the Rhine to the Urals, and keeps an uneasy peace with its nuclear rival, the United States. As the Fatherland prepares for a grand celebration honoring Adolf Hitler’s seventy-fifth birthday and anticipates a conciliatory visit from U.S. president Joseph Kennedy and ambassador Charles Lindbergh, a detective of the Kriminalpolizei is called out to investigate the discovery of a dead body in a lake near Berlin’s most prestigious suburb. But when Xavier March discovers the identity of the body, he also uncovers signs of a conspiracy that could go to the very top of the German Reich. And, with the Gestapo just one step behind, March, together with the American journalist Charlotte Maguire, is caught up in a race to discover and reveal the truth—a truth that has already killed, a truth that could topple governments, a truth that will change history
Our meetings have a $3 fee, purely to offset the cost of Meetup. This can be paid via Venmo, Paypal, or in cash.
- B&B Meeting: The Search For Modern China -- Part 12500 Q St NW, Washington, DC$3.00
Everyone, please join us on Monday, September 8 at 7 p.m. to discuss The Search For Modern China Part 1 | 388 pp of 707 total by Jonathan Spence. We will read the first half of the book in September and the second in October. If you don't want to pay for the Fourth Edition from June 2025 get the Third Edition from 2012, but not the original book from 1990.
The Search for Modern China originated in a legendary course at Yale taught by the late Jonathan Spence and has been the best-selling text for students and teachers of modern Chinese history ever since. Janet Chen (Princeton University), a leading scholar and expert in social and cultural history, updates The Search for Modern China for a new generation. Incorporating insights from recent scholarship throughout, she has also streamlined the text to make it more student-friendly while maintaining the spellbinding narrative.
Our meetings have a $3 fee, purely to offset the cost of Meetup. This can be paid via Venmo, Paypal, or in cash.
