Let's discuss “The Message” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates originally set out to write a book about writing, in the tradition of Orwell’s classic “Politics and the English Language,” but found himself grappling with deeper questions about how our stories expose and distort our realities.

“[Coates] is intellectually fearless . . . unshackled by political or racial ideology, humane in his judgments, respectful of facts, acutely aware of the difference between what is knowable and what is not.”—The New Yorker

“An earnest and intimate exploration of locations of extreme injustice, and of the power of writing to render a more compassionate—and more honest—future . . . At once a rallying cry and a love letter to writing itself, the book is an urgent reminder that ‘politics is the art of the possible, but art creates the possible of politics.’ ”—Oprah Daily

“Ever since his Baldwin-inflected Between the World and Me, Coates has been known for his incisive (and sometimes uncomfortable) cultural and political commentary. Here he journeys from West Africa to the American South to Palestine to examine how the stories we tell can fail us, and to argue that only the truth can bring justice.”—The Boston Globe

About the event:

You’re invited to join us 30 minutes before the event and stay for a drink with others after the book discussion.

Please read the book before attending - though we believe in the right not to finish! Completing the book isn’t a barrier to joining us, as long as you don't mind spoilers :)

We request a $3 contribution to help cover our monthly meetup platform costs of $41. Any additional funds will be donated to Amnesty International. Our conversations are lively, freewheeling, literary, and fun.