What's true? A Premise session

Think for yourself. Not by yourself.

At Premise we offer a chance to explore life’s big questions. Meet new people and learn from each other through guided conversations sparked by thought-provoking readings and films. No expertise required.

Register
Please register directly on the Premise site so we can send you the readings and details and stay organized. Premise participants come from many places, and this Meetup group is just one of them, so an RSVP here does not hold your spot.
Register here: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/whats-true

What’s True?
A free Premise session: one evening, one big life question, and two short stories.

When people remember the same event differently, how do we decide what really happened? Perception, memory, authority, and self-interest all shape what we see and what we say.

Anchored by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s In a Grove, two stories written thirty years apart on opposite sides of the world, we’ll explore how we judge credibility and what happens when versions of the truth compete.

How much should we trust our own perceptions? What makes us believe one person over another? And is there always a way to know what’s real?

What We’ll Read Before the Session

• The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (short story)
• In a Grove by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (short story)

Both stories will be sent as soon as you register and take less than two hours to read together. No prior experience with the authors or the ideas is expected. Come curious.

Details
Thursday, November 19, 2026
6:30–8:00 PM
In person in Portland
Address and door code shared after registration
This session is free. It’s the easiest way to try Premise and see what a guided conversation feels like.

Come on your own or bring a friend.
Register here: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/whats-true

Note: The number of RSVPs shown on Meetup doesn’t reflect the actual group size. Premise participants register through our website and other channels, so the group will include people beyond those you see here.

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Rather attend this session online? If you’d rather join from home, there’s an online session on Saturday,
December 12, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM PT.
Online registration: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/online-whats-true