Watch Skeptical Inquirer Presents on the Big Screen - Bridget Read

CFI WNY Presents: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America with Bridget Read – Live on the Big Screen!

From pink Cadillacs to promises of financial freedom, multilevel marketing (MLM) companies have sold more than just products—they’ve sold a dream. But behind the glitz lies a darker truth. Join us at the Center for Inquiry Western New York for a revealing Skeptical Inquirer Presents watch party featuring journalist and author Bridget Read, who exposes the troubling reality behind MLMs and their surprising impact on American life.

📅 Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
🕕 Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM | Livestream at 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Center for Inquiry WNY – 1310 Sweet Home Rd, Amherst
☕ Café Hour: Come early for coffee, snacks, and informal conversation

In this conversation, Read draws from her new book, Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America, to explain how MLMs—often disguised as entrepreneurial empowerment—function as exploitative pyramid schemes and political machines. From their murky legal status to their outsized cultural and economic influence, MLMs have quietly reshaped how Americans think about work, wealth, and success.
Whether you’ve been approached with a “business opportunity” or just want to understand the machinery behind the hustle, this event offers an eye-opening look at an under-scrutinized force in American society.

📚 After the livestream, join us in the reading room for a casual group discussion about MLMs, economic justice, and how to push back against financial misinformation.

🎟️ Free and open to all.
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