“End Times” by Peter Turchin
Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path Ahead
What happens when too many elites compete for too little power?
Why do great societies fracture from within—not just from war or invasion, but from too much ambition at the top?
Join us for a lively and open book club session as we dive into Peter Turchin’s provocative and timely work:
“End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path of Political Disintegration.”
This isn’t your typical political book—it’s part history, part sociology, part warning shot.
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What we’ll discuss:
- Why Turchin believes societies collapse when elite overproduction reaches a tipping point
- The rise of counter-elites: Who challenges the powerful—and why?
- Can political instability be predicted… and even prevented?
- What does the U.S. (and other Western democracies) look like through this lens?
- Do we agree with his conclusions—or see a different path forward?
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Casual discussion—no pressure to finish the book, just come ready to share ideas and reflections.
Whether you’ve read every page or just a few chapters, you're welcome.
We’ll connect the book’s ideas to today’s world—and maybe even our own lives.
