The Politically Incorrect Book Club Sydney

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, on Thursday 27 August 2026, at 7.00pm, we will be discussing The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalisation (2022) by Peter Zeihan.

This book is highly relevant in the shadow of the blockage of the Strait of Homuz and the interruption to the world's energy supplies. The book argues that the globalisation in trade was only possible after World War 2 because the US Navy guaranteed the free flow of international shipping. Now that the USA is unwilling or unable to keep the supply chains open, there will be an inevitable fall-back to regional trade blocs. Some countries have the resources to look after themselves (the USA has the best geography, energy, food and demographics) while other countries are more import-dependent and vulnerable (China, Germany). Australia would muddle through, as it is largely energy and food self-sufficient, but would be vulnerable to the international supply of manufactured goods and medicines.

The format of the meeting is that we speak about the book in a fairly structured way for about 45 mins, with one person speaking at a time, and where everyone gets to have a say. Dissenting opinions are given a lot of space. The meeting then formally ends, where almost everyone stays back in smaller informal groups to speak more about the book, or anything else!

Under our new R̶e̶i̶g̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶T̶e̶r̶r̶o̶r̶ updated policy, only those people who have read the book are encouraged to come. Do check out our Social events for those wanting to meet up without reading a book. Contact our friend Anna for soft copies or dalemills (at) cantab.net for a free pdf.

Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, we will be discussing The Builder's Stone by Melanie Phillips.

The Builder's Stone argues that Western Civilisation is built on an uneasy alliance between Athens and Jerusalem - a fusion of Greek reason and Biblical morality. Phillips contends that the modern West is abandoning the moral and spiritual foundations that once gave it coherence and concludes with a 10-point 'rescue plan' for the West.

The format of the meeting is that we talk about the book in a focused way for about 45 mins and then the meeting formally ends. The purpose of the discussion is to explore ideas and minority opinions are given a lot of space. After the meeting, almost all of us stay behind and speak informally about the book or anything else.

The book is available from the usual places, including our friend Anna. Otherwise, please contact me at dalemills@cantab.net for a free pdf.

Meeting at the usual place, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, we will be discussing The Counterweight Handbook (2024) by Helen Pluckrose.

Opponents of woke are often from the political right, but Helen Pluckrose calls herself a feminist (but late distanced herself from that word). Her academic focus was religious writing by women in the late medieval and early modern period. Distancing herself from the label 'right-wing,' she advocates anti-woke strategies in favour of a classical liberal alternative grounded in universalism, individual rights, open inquiry and the ability to disagree. Unlike some anti-woke writers, Pluckrose writes beautifully.

The book is easily available from bookshops, local libraries and our friend Anna. Contact me for a free pdf on dalemills@cantab.net

Reading the book beforehand is required.

We meet in a semi-private room on the top floor. Look for the sign or ask at the bar. There will be about 10 of us. Newcomers welcome.