Due to extreme heat, the library will close at 5 pm on Tuesday, July 29 and close at 2 pm on Wednesday, July 30

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PROGRAMS / READING GROUPS / Reality Is Not What It Seems

“Isn’t that kind of the fun, the looking into a vast darkness ripe with wonders that will never cease?”
-Vera Rubin

In this reading group we will explore the physical world through science by examining the cosmos, the mysteries of time, and the fabric of reality. Together we will contemplate the evolution of the universe, black holes, neutrinos, chaos theory, and more. We will be guided by some of the greatest minds in science and philosophy, who make these complex ideas not only accessible to people who don’t have a science background, but also fun and engaging.

OVERVIEW

Scientific inquiry has inspired countless generations of humans to ask “how” and “why.” Through the millennia, science has helped us apply critical thinking so our societies could continue to evolve, adapt, and learn. Science helps us see what we know, what we don’t know, and what we may never know. By approaching and questioning uncertainties and unknowns we can foster humility. Pursuing scientific knowledge impacts our worldview and hopefully increases our sense of interconnectedness with each other, nature, and the cosmos.

In this reading group we will tackle questions like: What does the study of the cosmos teach us about our place in the universe and the meaning of existence? What role do black holes, dark matter, and dark energy play in shaping the universe? Is the nature of time absolute, or is it an illusion? What is the interplay between chaos and order in natural systems? How can life arise from non-living matter? What is the relationship between consciousness and the physical universe?

MEETING AND READING SCHEDULE

This group will meet on the 1st Wednesday on the month, September – May, in the mezzanine-level Art Room at the Athenæum, 5:30-7pm.

Wed, September 3
A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking (226 pages)

Wed, October 1
Black Hole Survival Guide, Janna Levin (160 pages)

Wed, November 5
Neutrino Hunters: The Thrilling Chase for a Ghostly Particle to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe, Ray Jayawardhana (256 pages)

Wed, December 3
The Order of Time, Carlo Rovelli (224 pages)

Wed, January 7
The MANIAC, Benjamín Labatut (368 pages)

Wed, February 4
Cosmos, Carl Sagan (384 pages)

Wed, March 4
Chaos: Making a New Science, James Gleick (352 pages)

Wed, April 1
Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life’s Emergence, Sara Imari Walker (272 pages)

Wed, May 6
Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being, Neil Theise (224 pages)

GROUP FACILITATOR

Erin Perfect is an archivist, librarian, artist, writer, and facilitator. She believes it is paramount to seek understanding in all its forms.

This group has reached capacity. To be added to a waitlist, please email readinggroups@provath.org with REALITY as the subject line.

The Athenæum is deeply grateful to our wonderful volunteer leaders. Please note library reading groups are not classes or courses, but rather a way for individuals to discuss readings together, guided by both expert and amateur enthusiasts. Participants should expect discussion-based, not lecture-style meetings.