Book Clubs Sydney

Why Aren't We Working Less? The Four-Day Work Week Debate

Why do we still work so much? In 1930, celebrated economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that rising productivity would reduce the working week to just fifteen hours by now, leaving society with a novel challenge: what to do with all that free time! He was remarkably close on the productivity prediction—yet the standard working week has barely changed. So where did the promised leisure go? Did consumerism convince us to trade leisure for luxury brands and better gadgets? Did work itself become too central to who we are — our identity, our worth, our status in the world — to simply give some of it up? Or did most of the gains from productivity growth flow upward, leaving the rest of us running just to stand still? We'll explore the history of the five-day week, the evidence coming from today's four-day week trials, and whether working less could create a happier, healthier society—or simply new problems. Join us as we unpack this fascinating debate about the future of work. **Primary Reading:** ***[Why Do We Still Work So Much? The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Week](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQCMLOhSERNXQrLX7RbhwoOjASCYnbF-FMR0fSJ4mRubaFA?e=s1NMGH)*** (a document prepared for this meetup) **Report: *[Four-Day Work Week (2026)](https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Issues_and_Insights/2026/FourDayWorkWeek)***[ ](https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Issues_and_Insights/2026/FourDayWorkWeek) by Parliamentary Library of Australia **(Optional) Book: *The Case for a Four-Day Week* (2021) by Anna Coote, Aidan Harper and Alfie Stirling** There wasn't one ideal book (affordable and easily available in paperback) for this month's topic, so the primary reading is a document prepared specially for this meetup, It traces the history of the working week from its origins through to today's four-day trials and policy proposals, weighing the strongest arguments on both sides. It's designed to give everyone a shared, evidence-based foundation for the discussion. However, if you are fine with reading eBooks or can find it with your library, the main book I would suggest is *The Case for a Four Day Week* by Anna Coote, Aidan Harper and Alfie Stirling, which is a widely cited book-length treatment of the topic and is readily available as an eBook, though you will probably need to order it in if you'd prefer a paperback. And if you have no luck with that book, there are also two other similar books mentioned below which you may also want to try (O'Connor and Lindzon, 2026; Schor, 2025) We also recommend you look at a short, up-to-date report from the Parliamentary Library of Australia, which offers a concise local policy snapshot to complement the broader discussion in the main reading. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before attending. This will enrich both your experience and our collective discussion. We’ve also included links below to further resources on the topic. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 2 November, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surrey Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail. We look forward to seeing you there! P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to others if there is a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just optional links to consider. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos** * Two short explainer videos about why we still work so much: [The five-day workweek was made up. What if we changed it?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn5-FIkFq0I) [Why do we still need to work?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KXZP-Deel4) * Two videos on the four-day work week: [TED The Case for a 4-Day Work Week by Juliet Schor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyVfUaXyyqo) [ABC Could a 4-day working week be coming to Australia?](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-29/could-a-4-day-working-week-be-coming-to-australia/105588208) * SBS Insight - Rat Race - Episode 11 2026. As post-COVID attitudes towards work-life balance continue to change, some of us are questioning our role in the rat race and opting out. For others, the choice is hampered by housing and cost-of-living pressures. This Insight explores how Australians are balancing a desire to clock-off - and doing something like a 4-day week - with their need to pay the bills. **Written** * Primary Reading: ***[Why Do We Still Work So Much? The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Week](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQCMLOhSERNXQrLX7RbhwoOjASCYnbF-FMR0fSJ4mRubaFA?e=s1NMGH)*** (a document prepared for this meetup) * An Easter egg for those who have read this far: [The Case for a Four Day Week](http://reparti.free.fr/coote2021.pdf) * A Britannica overview of issues relating to a four-day work week: [The Four-Day Work Week](https://www.britannica.com/procon/four-day-workweek-debate) * Studies and trends in Australia's experience with four day work week; [Emerging Four Day Work Week Trends in Australia](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372461877_Emerging_Four_Day_Work_Week_Trends_in_Australia) [The four-day workweek in Australia: insights from early adopters](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-026-07536-x) * An annotated reading of John Maynard Keynes' 1930 lecture about what 2030 might look like: [Keynes (1930) Economic possibilities for our grandchildren ](https://www.elysian.press/p/economic-possibilities-for-our-grandchildren) * Other books which members may want to look at: *\- Do More in Four: Why It's Time for a Shorter Workweek* (2026) by Joe O'Connor and Jared Lindzon — written by the pioneer behind Ireland's national four-day week pilot, this is one of the most current, practically-minded account of how organisations are actually redesigning work around a shorter week, including in the age of AI. *\- Four Days a Week: The Life\-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress\, Improving Well\-Being\, and Working Smarter* (2025) by Juliet Schor — drawing on the largest study yet conducted on reduced-hours trials (245 organisations, 8,700 workers), this is Schor's own full account of the evidence behind the case for a four-day week. *\- Bullshit Jobs: A Theory* (2018) by David Graeber — a provocative anthropological argument that a significant share of modern work is pointless by the admission of the people doing it, offering a very different angle on why we still work so much.

Books and Bevvies

Welcome to **Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap and drinks social in the Sydney CBD. This is not a book club with homework. It’s a simple, low-key way to meet people, chat about what you’ve been reading, and walk out with something new. **HOW IT WORKS** Bring a book you’re happy to part with. Pop it on the swap table when you arrive. Mingle, chat, and swap recommendations. When the swap opens, take a book that catches your eye. Stay for a drink and a conversation after. **WHAT TO BRING** One book, any genre and any reading level. **GOOD TO KNOW** The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing, so if you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to “not going”. Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group. The venue is kindly not enforcing a minimum spend, but please support them by buying a drink, soft drink, or some lunch during the swap if you can. There is no mandatory entry fee, but voluntary contributions are **very much** appreciated. The group costs around **$65 a month to keep running**, so if you enjoy the swap and are in a position to chip in, even $5 or $10 makes a real difference. Please feel free to contribute with cash or via PayID at any stage through the swap. **WHERE WE’LL BE** We’ll be in the Market Street Garden Bar, with a table full of books and bevvies.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills, Sydney, on Thursday 5 November 2026, we will be discussing *Lolita* (1955) by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov. This is one of the most famous and controversial novels of the 20th century. Humbert is a middle aged man obsessively attracted to to a 12-year-old girl whom he nicknames 'Lolita.' After he marries her mother, Humbert manipulates circumstances to gain control over Lolita after her mother's death. He then sexually abuses her over a long period of time, convincing himself that (despite her age) she is consenting and enjoying it. For me (Dale), the power of the novel is that morally Humbert is the lowest of the low — a serial child abuser. Yet he would probably be the most captivating guest at a dinner party: cultured, clever, witty and amusing. How do we distinguish between the morality of a person's words and ideas on the one hand, and the reality of their actions on the other? Nabokov forces us to confront an idea sometimes assumed by the ancient Greeks: that a person's intelligence, charm and artistic sensitivity somehow reflects their inner beauty. Or perhaps the most intelligent and witty people can be the most morally corrupt? The novel was initially rejected by several publishers because of its subject matter before being published in Paris. It later became an international bestseller and is now considered a classic. Easily available in hard copies from local libraries (free) or through inter-library loan ($3.50). About $13 from Amazon, ebay and bookshops. Soft copies from our friend Anna or a free pdf from me on request at dalemills@cantab.net We meet upstairs in the pub in a private room conducive to discussion. Look for the sign or ask at the bar for details. There will be about 30 of us. We talk about the book in big group for about 40 mins, before breaking up into small groups. Newcomers are very welcome.

Books and Bevvies

Welcome to **Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap and drinks social in the Sydney CBD. This is not a book club with homework. It’s a simple, low-key way to meet people, chat about what you’ve been reading, and walk out with something new. **HOW IT WORKS** Bring a book you’re happy to part with. Pop it on the swap table when you arrive. Mingle, chat, and swap recommendations. When the swap opens, take a book that catches your eye. Stay for a drink and a conversation after. **WHAT TO BRING** One book, any genre and any reading level. **GOOD TO KNOW** The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing, so if you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to “not going”. Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group. The venue is kindly not enforcing a minimum spend, but please support them by buying a drink, soft drink, or some lunch during the swap if you can. There is no mandatory entry fee, but voluntary contributions are **very much** appreciated. The group costs around **$65 a month to keep running**, so if you enjoy the swap and are in a position to chip in, even $5 or $10 makes a real difference. Please feel free to contribute with cash or via PayID at any stage through the swap. **WHERE WE’LL BE** We’ll be in the Market Street Garden Bar, with a table full of books and bevvies.

Sydney Connect with Gay Singles Locally

**💞 Sydney Gay Zoom Speed Dating – Personality & Age Matched** **⚠️ Important: RSVP ≠ registration.** To attend, pick your age group below, sign up, and finish the personality quiz. Places are limited. **Pick your age group and register:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=652.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Sydney&groupurlname=beacon-watchers-and-coastal-night-owls&ar=18-32&face_v=165.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=652.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Sydney&groupurlname=beacon-watchers-and-coastal-night-owls&ar=30-46&face_v=165.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=652.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Sydney&groupurlname=beacon-watchers-and-coastal-night-owls&ar=40-58&face_v=165.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=652.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Sydney&groupurlname=beacon-watchers-and-coastal-night-owls&ar=55+&face_v=165.0) --- Genuine conversations with real locals — all from your living room. Each round is a brief one-on-one Zoom chat with a Sydney gay local paired by age and personality. A host keeps the pace comfortable. 🎯 **Perfect for:** - Gay singles who prefer a hosted, structured experience - Introverts who shine in one-on-one conversations - Busy professionals who don't want to waste evenings - Anyone who likes connecting online before meeting face-to-face - Anyone curious about gay speed dating in a relaxed setting **Event Details** - **Format:** Zoom video event – short timed rounds - **Location:** From home – just need Wi-Fi and a webcam - **Host:** Experienced host running the evening - **Vibe:** Great energy, real people, authentic conversation in a welcoming space **How It Works** 1. **Sign up** – Click the link for your age range above. 2. **Do the matching quiz** – Helps us find your best matches for the night. 3. **Log in** – Join the Zoom session from home. The host runs everything. 4. **Chat** – Short timed rounds with Sydney singles matched to you. 5. **See your matches** – Find out who you clicked with after the event. 💡 **Tip:** Test your Zoom and find a quiet, well-lit spot beforehand. ⭐ *"Ideal for introverts. Felt at ease the entire time."* – Sydney attendee --- ✨ Your next match could be one Zoom call away. 💗 ✨

What Do Christmas Movies Tell Us About Ourselves and Society?

Is *Love Actually* a celebration of love, or a two-hour HR incident with tinsel? Is *Home Alone* a cosy Christmas classic, or a study in how cheerfully American culture celebrates a kid maiming grown men with paint cans and a blowtorch? And, of course, is *Die Hard* actually a Christmas movie? This December, the Big Ideas Book Club is trading a book for a lively exploration of Christmas movies, with familiar favourites such as *Love Actually*, *Home Alone*, *Elf*, *The Holiday*, *Die Hard*, *It's a Wonderful Life* and *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation* giving just a taste of what we might discuss. This will be a casual and social event, so there's no need to brush up on your Derridean deconstruction, Foucauldian discourse analysis or Žižekian cultural theory. That said, while there's no book to read for this event, we've prepared an optional guide (link below) to spark ideas about themes commonly explored in Christmas movies. These include nostalgia and invented tradition; love and romance; loneliness and forced festive cheer; redemption and second chances; and consumer capitalism vs the Christmas spirit. And if the theme of Christmas as a social institution that forces a dysfunctional group of people to perform family harmony once a year sounds familiar, may I also suggest you watch the wonderful Australian series *A Moody Christmas*, currently available on Netflix and Prime Video (sometimes listed as *The Moodys* Season 1). **Optional pre-reading guide: *[What Do Christmas Movies Tell Us About Ourselves and Society?](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQB0wZ7v4uFTTrcC4WtEu1wrAaaZL7y9KiF8YlJ17RHGbkQ?e=mhWaqu)*** (32 pages) We'll inevitably spend a lot of time in the Anglo-American Christmas universe, but we'd also love to hear what Christmas, or its closest equivalent, looks like on screen (and around the dinner table) in other countries and cultures. So join us for a Christmas drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 7th December, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surry Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail. We’ll see you there — unless, of course, you’re unexpectedly trapped at an airport, you’ve bumped into your teenage crush while doing some Christmas shopping, or you’re defending your house from burglars. P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to others if there is a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just some further optional links to consider to supplement the reading of the prepared document. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos and Podcasts:** * Dr Lauren Rosewarne, an academic at Melbourne University, shares what she learned after watching (or enduring) 1000 Christmas movies as research for her book *Analysing Christmas in Film: Santa to the Supernatural* (2018): [What I Learned Watching 1000 Christmas Movies (13 mins)](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sydney-drive/siw-christmas-films/104685880) [The Best (and Worst) Christmas Movies – by someone who’s watched over 1000 (9 mins)](https://www.2ser.com/best-worst-christmas-movies-someone-whos-watched-1000) [75 Christmas Films Worth Watching ](https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/5143-75-christmas-films-worth-watching) * Six short podcast clips on various aspects of Christmas movies (hit the play button near the top): [A Film Lover's Guide to Christmas Movies ](https://harkaudio.com/film-lovers-guide-christmas-movies-66440) * *Love Actually* \- an attack\, a defence\, and a therapist’s ranking of each relationship: [Toxic Takeaways - How Not to Love, Actually](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9NcbH371ek) [Love Actually is Good, Actually - BFI video essay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hMffxJim1M) [Relationship Therapist Ranks Love Actually Romances](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR6H4eGHZJM) **Written:** * Optional pre-reading guide: ***[What Do Christmas Movies Tell Us About Ourselves and Society?](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQB0wZ7v4uFTTrcC4WtEu1wrAaaZL7y9KiF8YlJ17RHGbkQ?e=mhWaqu)*** (32 pages) * A short piece on the benefits of watching Christmas movies: [Why Christmas Movies Make Us Feel Good](https://www.fielding.edu/why-christmas-movies-make-us-feel-good/) * A data geek's analysis of whether *Die Hard* is a Christmas movie: [Using data to determine if Die Hard is a Christmas movie](https://stephenfollows.com/p/using-data-to-determine-if-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie) * Article on the sociology of Christmas: [What Our Favourite Festive Films Reveal About Society](https://thesociologyguy.com/2025/11/29/the-sociology-of-christmas-what-our-favourite-festive-films-reveal-about-society/)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, Thursday 3 Dec, at 7.00pm, we will be discussing *A Christmas Carol*, by Charles Dickens. Published in 1843, it recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet-to-Come. In the process, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. It is high on the list of books that people think they have read, but haven't. This fun 150-page novel was written at a time when the English-speaking world was re-imagining the holiday season. At a time when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, played a major role in popularising what now seem 'ancient' traditions, such as the Christmas Tree and the eating of gingerbread at that special time of year. For those wanting extra reading, there is also the non-fiction work *The man who invented Christmas : how Charles Dickens's A Christmas carol rescued his career and revived our holiday spirits* by Les Standiford. Available through the local library system. There is also a small industry of movies, animations and commentaries. For those wanting even more of a reading fix, there are multiple academic commentaries and re-tellings: feminist, gay, black, Jewish, science fiction, steampunk, horror-zombie, coming-of-age, literary, philosophical and Marxist. You can also check out the NSW Dickens' Society at https://dickenssydney.com.au Hard copies of the book are available from local libraries and from amazon, and soft copies from [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46) There will be about 30 of us in a semi-private room, upstairs, conducive to discussion. We will discuss the book as a 'big group' for about 40 mins, before breaking up into informal small groups to further discuss the book or anything else. We are a friendly lot and newcomers are welcome. Contact Dale on [dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net) for more info.

A Christmas Carol (play)

In preparation for our next book discussion, some might wish to take advantage of a stage production of *A Christmas Carol* by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Michael Wilson. I (Dale) have bought a ticket for the Saturday November 14 play at 4.00pm. Everyone is welcome to join me. I will be sitting in seat E8 (which is an aisle seat). People can go online and book a seat next or near to me, or anywhere else in the theatre. The play is being shown at the Zenith Theatre / Pymble Players, about a 5 mins walk from Chatswood train station. Just buy a ticket and we can meet up there! More info and (scroll to the bottom of the page) ticket purchase options at https://pymbleplayers.com.au/a-christmas-carol Tickets are $30 + $3 concession, or $5 extra full price. Contact me on dalemills@cantab.net for more info.

Stoicism in Practice | Contemplation of the sage

*​"Choose a master whose life, conversation, and soul-expressing face have satisfied you... For we must have someone according to whom we may regulate our characters." —*** Seneca** **​Join us for this unique interactive Stoic practice of the Contemplation of the Sage—the mental summoning of an ideal role model to guide our daily actions.** ​**Meeting Point**: Mitchell library section and in the Shakespeare Room, The State Library ​We will meet in the historic Shakespeare Room to discuss the concept of the Stoic Sage and how this practice works. **Seach for your Sage: We will dispers**e into the grand bookshelves of the library to find a book authored by, or centered on, a person you consider a sage. Whether they are a real historical figure or a fictional character, look for someone who embodies wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. **​The Gathering**: We will regroup in the Shakespeare Room to share our discoveries. **​*Note: Sharing your chosen book and the inspiration behind it is entirely optional, but highly encouraged!***

Short Story Club: 'Bright Hearts' by Kaaron Warren

Short Story Club is a reading club for time-poor people who love speculative fiction. Just like other clubs we read the story and discuss it... though expect to go deeper into craft as writers. This session we're reading Ditmar finalist '[Bright Hearts](https://reactormag.com/bright-hearts-kaaron-warren/)' by Kaaron Warren. Kaaron Warren published her first short story in 1993 and has had fiction in print every year since. She has published six multi-award winning novels (*Slights*, *Walking the Tree*, *Mistification*, *The Grief Hole*, *Tide of Stone*, and *The Underhistory*) and eight short story collections, the most recent being *Calvaria Fell*, with Cat Sparks. No need to bring anything but your thoughts, having read the story.

Scion by James Islington | Sat 7 Nov 2026

The Builder's Stone by Melanie Phillips

**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 and the local library system. Otherwise, contact me if you are having issues getting a copy at dalemills@cantab.net