What we’re about
Intellectual Café is a group of well-read, open-minded individuals who enjoy to get together, chat, and debate. There is no limit in the coverage of issues: from philosophy, to psychology, to sociology, to politics, to history and to the environmental issues. We've got it all covered. If there is an issue worth reading, contemplating, and debating about, the issue is relevant to our group. As a member, you are more than welcome to submit ideas to discuss, debate, or read about. All members can suggest meetups and can host those meetups in which they serve as the moderator and/or the subject matter expert. Being an intellectual is cool in this group and we'd love to get to know you!
Get involved: we'd love to have as many as possible members who are willing to host events. After hosting a successful event, you're more than welcome to become one of the group's Event Organizers, if you so wish. To get started, simply send a message to the group's organizer and explain what kind of event you'd like to host.
Cost: Membership in this group and our events are free. You will pay for your own drinks/food at the meetup location.
RSVPs: Every member is expected to respect their RSVP for each event and keep it up to date. Two instances of disrespect of the RSVP will lead to the member being removed from the group.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Abundance: How We Build a Better Future by Ezra Klein and Derek ThompsonResto Végo St-Denis, Montréal, QC
Important points:
-No need to read the book as long as you are interested in the themes of the book, or just want to meet people.
-If you cannot access the audiobook, you can access the following resources to get a pretty solid idea of the author's main points in the book:
YouTube Video (around 18 minutes)
“Abundance:” Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson’s Bold Vision for Democrats | Amanpour and Company
The Guardian's Review of the Book:
Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson review – make America build again | Politics books | The Guardian
A very detailed opinion piece by The Boston Review (please don't mistake this for my opinion):
The Real Path to Abundance - Boston Review
-I can provide a summary of the author's main ideas at the meetup for those who have not read the book.
-We are meeting at Resto Vego on St-Denis at 6:00 pm. I will be downstairs in the corner to your right. The table says "reserved".
-Resto vego is a vegetarian buffet restaurant, they have a great buffet and coffee. The manager doesn't allow people to bring food to eat from outside into the restaurant.
-No meetup fee! 😊😃😀The book's main points are:
Resource scarcity is not real, humanity assumes it is real, then acts on self-fulfilling assumptions that cause actual scarcity:
-Rather than fighting over how to divide a shrinking pie, we must grow the pie—and to do that, we must build.
-Housing: Affordability crises in places like San Francisco and New York are due to local opposition and zoning restrictions—not physical limits.
-Energy: Clean energy deployment is slowed not by tech but by local opposition and slow permitting.
-Science & Infrastructure: Innovation is slowed by lack of government coordination and investment.
-Contrary to both conservative minimalism and liberal caution, the authors argue for a strong, capable, ambitious government that builds things at scale—like Operation Warp Speed or the interstate highway system.
-Current processes for public projects are paralyzed by endless reviews, lawsuits, and delays.
-They argue that delivering tangible improvements to people’s lives is the best defense against authoritarianism and populism.Finally, they argue that rapid government-controlled production can occur while keeping democracy, a healthy environment and equality intact.
