SUMMER READING GROUPS

During the academic semester, the Berkeley Institute focuses its programming on students — but during the summer, we are opening our doors. If you want to think more about a familiar text or be introduced to new ideas; if you want to read closely and think deeply in the company of others; or if you want to develop the habits of patient and generous thinking, we invite you to participate in our reading groups this summer. Unless otherwise noted, all our reading groups are open to the public (ages 18 and older) and welcomes participants from all walks of life and educational backgrounds.

Because we want to create a meaningful space for thoughtful conversation, we must limit the number of participants in each reading group. You may apply for more than one reading group. Please only apply to join a reading group if you can commit to attending all the meetings and completing the reading beforehand.

All questions about this program are welcome at info@binst.org.

  • Summer 2023 Kick-Off

    Thurs., May 4 from 5:30-7pm

    Join us as we celebrate the end of the semester, announce our summer reading groups, and enjoy good food and conversation.

    RSVP

  • Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

    facilitator: Noella D'Souza

    Location: Berkeley Institute,
    2134 Allston Way, 2nd floor

    Tues., May 30 at 6pm-7:15pm: Preface through "Tending Sweetgrass" (ix-120)

    Tues., June 13 at 6pm-7:15pm: Picking Sweetgrass through Braiding Sweetgrass (121-302)

    Tues., June 27 at 6pm-7:15pm: Burning Sweetgrass through Epilogue (303-384)

    Registration Closed

  • Select Writings by Simone Weil

    facilitator: Helen Halliwell

    Location: Berkeley Institute,
    2134 Allston Way, 2nd floor

    Wed., May 31 at 12pm-1:15pm:     "Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies" in Waiting for God; "Gravity and Grace" and "Attention and Will" in Gravity and Grace

    Wed., June 7 at 12pm-1:15pm: "Contradiction," "Intelligence and Grace," "Detachment," "Imagination Which Fills the Void," "To Desire without an Object" in Gravity and Grace

    Wed., June 14 at 12pm-1:15pm: "Decreation,” excerpt from "The Love of Our Neighbor" in Waiting for God; “Love” in Gravity and Grace

    Registration Closed

  • Select Articles on Artificial Intelligence

    facilitator: Marissa Ramirez de Chanlatte

    Location: Berkeley Institute,
    2134 Allston Way, 2nd floor

    Wed., July 19 at 12pm-1:15pm: “Toward Making Robots Invisible-In-Use: An Exploration Into Invisible-In-Use Tools and Agents” Leila Takayama

    Wed., July 26 at 12pm-1:15pm: “Who’s Johnny? Anthropomorphic Framing in Human-Robot Interaction, Integration, and Policy” Kate Darling

    Wed., August 2 at 12pm-1:15pm: “Who Gets the Credit for AI Generated Art?” Ziv Epstein, Sydney Levine, David G. Rand, Iyad Rahwan

    Registration Closed

  • Select Writings by Jean-Paul Sartre

    facilitator: Nathalia Bell

    Location: Berkeley Institute,
    2134 Allston Way, 2nd floor

    Thurs., August 10 at 12pm-1:15pm: Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” (1946)

    Thurs., August 17 at 12pm-1:15pm: Sartre, “The Republic of Silence” (1944)

    Registration Closed

  • Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

    *this is a virtual reading group open to BINST alumni only

    Fri., June 2 from 12pm-1:15pm: Preface, Prologue and “Book One: Et in Arcadia Ego” (pp. ix-170)

    Fri., July 7 from 12pm-1:15pm:     “Book Two: Brideshead Deserted” (pp. 171-258)

    Fri. August 4 from 12pm-1:15pm:     “Book Three: A Twitch upon the Thread” and Epilogue (pp. 258-406)

    RSVP

  • End-of-Summer Dinner Party: A Conversation about Academic-Adjacent Spaces

    *this event is open to participants in our summer reading groups, BINST alumni, and our Donor Communities

    Fri., August 18 from 6:00-7:30pm

    In student life, what is the role of academic-adjacent spaces: the spaces between and around classes where intellectual friendship develops? This end-of-summer celebration will include dinner, casual conversation, and an opportunity to enjoy the friendships made across our summer reading groups. We'll encourage guests to read this essay beforehand and come ready to think, eat, and hang out.

    RSVP link will be sent via email