Book Drives Sydney

OCTOBER BOOK –'A Waiter in Paris' by Edward Chisholm

October Book Club: "Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy"

Welcome to Meet the Moment Book Club, where we read books that meet the moment and make sense of it all together. Please see our [group page](https://www.meetup.com/meet-the-moment-book-club/) for a list of upcoming books. In discussing the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we spoke about who the real powers that be are that have molded Palestine and the Middle East into the quagmire it is today. Now we turn our eyes to the urgent now: who the powers that be are today that are consolidating power as never before. Silicon Valley and Big Tech are top of mind. Gil Durán's book "Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War On Democracy" has become an instant bestseller for good reason -- we see AI dominating and tech billionaires (now even trillionaires) amassing wealth and power in frightening proportions, even as they are not solving but exacerbating the crises we face today. It seems critical that we understand what they really have in mind and what we can do about it. Here is an ABC article about the book: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-02/the-nerd-reich-silicon-valley-fascism-war-on-democracy-abc-2026/107091034 \*\*\* "When Silicon Valley says it is ‘‘moving fast and breaking things,’’ the world interprets the chaos as a necessary cost of innovation. Gil Durán reveals something far more sinister: a decades-long campaign to replace elected governments with corporate rule. Drawing on insider political experience and new investigations, Durán traces this ideology from its philosophical roots in *The Sovereign Individual* by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg. He introduces its modern apostles—Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, and Elon Musk—and shows how the promise of technological liberation has transformed into a global movement for digital feudalism, powered by cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and the algorithmic propaganda of social media. *The Nerd Reich* explains the origins, strategies, and ambitions of Silicon Valley’s war on democracy for the first time. From San Francisco’s weaponized elections and secret billionaire projects to the White House, Durán exposes how the world’s richest men are building a new political order. *The Nerd Reich* is more than a hidden history, it’s an urgent warning: democracy is being dismantled not by coups or tanks, but by code, capital, and the illusion of innovation. Durán insists there is still time to fight back—if we act now." https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-nerd-reich-silicon-valley-fascism-and-the-war-on-democracy-gil-dur-n/a6f6f0dce1150339 \*\*\* We will be meeting at The Erko Hotel. If it's sunny, we'll be outside in the back; if rainy, we'll be at the big square raised table next to the bar. We will start and end on time. There's no fee, but please purchase your own food/drinks from the venue. \*\*\* If you have trouble getting the book, message me. On reading the book: I encourage people to read the book over just interviews or summaries, because nothing beats the slow digesting of the beauty and nuances in a book. Especially for the books in this book club that challenge our worldviews and help us see the world as it truly is, these books need to be really grappled with, to be fully engaged with, to receive the full benefits. For reference, I use book clubs to motivate me to finish the books I want to read, so the date of the book club becomes a deadline to finish the book by. I calculate the number of pages in a book and the number of days I can realistically read, and work out how many pages on average I need to read each day. That's how I've finished many books. Invariably, they're worth reading to the end. Of course, life happens and we're all busy. If you really can't finish a book or can only watch videos this time, that's okay. Come by with an attitude of listening, open to being inspired, and take in what others have to say; perhaps you'll want to read/finish the book afterwards. Just know that books are like most things in life: what you put in is what you get out of it. A podcast or ChatGPT can give you the high-level points, sure, perhaps to BS your way to a decent grade in class; but we're not in school anymore, and we read these books because they better our lives and help us see more clearly. But they can only do so if we read them, because reading is what makes all the new concepts come to life enough to maybe change us. For the full magic, you just gotta read. Alright, thanks for reading my ode to reading. \*\*\* If the RSVP list is full, please join the waitlist as there will likely be fluctuations closer to the date. If you RSVP'ed and can't make it, please edit your RSVP so that others can attend. No-shows will be noted and barred from the book club. Look forward to seeing you there!

The Odyssey by Homer

Join us upstairs at **The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills,** on **Thursday 1 October 2026**, at 7.00pm (sharp) as we discuss ***The Odyssey***, one of the foundational works of Western literature. We will have special guests and will be warmly welcoming two members of the Greek diplomatic mission to Australia: Mr. Georgios Skemperis, the Consul General, as well as Mrs. Paraskevi Tsintzou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy. Originating in an oral tradition about 3,000 years ago, *The Odyssey* tells the story of the 10-year journey of King Odysseus after the Trojan War. King Odysseus is a soldier, at a time when Kings had to prove their authority by their bravery and skill in fighting the enemy. Along the way back to his homeland, he outwits the **Cyclops -** the one-eyed giants who were so uncivilised that they ate their meals alone. He resists the goddess **Calypso**: despite her skill at sexual pleasure (hey, she is a goddess), Odysseus enjoys her sexual delights, but really just wants to re-unite with his (ageing, but real) wife back in Ithaca. And he passes by the **Sirens**, whose irresistible song lures sailors to their deaths. He wants to listen to their songs, but gets his men to tie him to a mast, and to get his own sailors to fill their ears with wax, so that only he can hear them sing. That way, the sailors will not hear his orders that they should sail ever closer to their seductive voices (and to certain death). Meanwhile, his wife Penelope cleverly delays the suitors trying to seize his kingdom in his absence. There are multiple translations. For newcomers, I (Dale) recommend the 2017 translation by **Emily Wilson**, available in print, audiobook (about 13 hours), and as a free PDF from me on request ([dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net)). There are lots of criticisms of the recent Nolan film and the Wilson translation, but one has to start somewhere. If you're short on time, I recommend reading: * Books 1–5 (Telemachus and Calypso) * Book 9 (Cyclops) * Book 12 (The Underworld and the Sirens) * Books 13–16 (Return to Ithaca) * Books 21–24 (The Bow Contest and Reunion) Also, perhaps, see several podcasts on this at [https://www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/episode/975654db/the-odyssey-1-mary-beard-on-homers-masterpiece](https://www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/episode/975654db/the-odyssey-1-mary-beard-on-homers-masterpiece) Fortunately, the most famous painting of Odysseus and the Sirens is by John William Waterhouse, at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. There will be about 30 of us speaking in a big group for about 30 mins. After that, people break up into groups of 4 or 5 to speak more about the book or anything else. We are a friendly lot, and newcomers are welcome. Contact Dale on dalemills@cantab.net for more info.

Manipulation: What It Is, Why It's Bad, What to Do About It

How often are your decisions really your own? Every day we are surrounded by advertising, social media, political campaigns, news headlines, influencers, sales techniques and well-meaning advice — all competing for our attention and trying to shape what we think, feel and do. But where is the line between persuasion and manipulation? Can manipulation ever be ethical, or is it always something to resist? And in an age of personalised algorithms and increasingly sophisticated AI, are we becoming easier to manipulate than ever before? Come and join us as we explore these fascinating and relevant questions of modern life. **Book: *Manipulation: What It Is, Why It's Bad, What to Do About It* (2025) by Cass R. Sunstein** **Companion Reading: *[A Guide to Understanding Manipulation](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDHXT_8qUk6SaS0K3l8wqrwAQGmTmBNSjEbvmGyDm5emUM?e=A1kJfd)*** (prepared for this meetup) Cass Sunstein is almost uniquely placed to write this book. He is the co-creator of nudge theory (with Richard Thaler), a former senior adviser in the Obama White House, and one of the most cited legal scholars in the world. He has spent decades studying how human psychology shapes decisions, and has seen from the inside how governments and corporations exploit that knowledge. The result is a book that is simultaneously rigorous and readable: part philosophy, part law, part behavioural science, and part catalogue of the tricks being played on us every day. Sunstein moves from abstract definitions — what exactly separates manipulation from persuasion, and why does it matter? — through case studies of dark patterns, deepfakes, deliberate bureaucratic friction, and the social pressure traps of platforms like TikTok, before arriving at what may be the book's most important question: as AI makes manipulation more precise and more powerful than at any previous point in history, do we need a new legal and moral right — a right not to be manipulated — in the same way that a previous era recognised, for the first time, a right to privacy? This is one of those discussions where prior reading is not just encouraged but genuinely necessary — the conversation will move quickly into territory that only makes sense if you already understand Sunstein's conceptual framework. The companion reading guide is designed to make that framework accessible quickly, so even if time is short, a read-through of it will set you up well. But if you can get hold of the book itself, we think you'll find it genuinely easy to read or listen to — and it comes with a notable endorsement: Tim Wu, whose book we discussed just a couple of months ago, has named it as one of his top book recommendations. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 5th October, 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 to supplement the reading of the book and document. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos** * Cass Sunstein in an overview, seminar and podcast: [Overview of the book (3 mins)](https://www.cambridge.org/news-and-insights/talking-manipulation-with-cass-sunstein) [Online Seminar - Fifty Shades of Manipulation (43 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9sopDkcLYM) [Sunstein on Manipulation vs Influence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aPzxitrWCE&t=2s) * 5 Insights on the book (The Next Big Idea Club) by Sunstein. Note that the audio version is more detailed than the written summary below it: [These Are the Silent Manipulations Most People Don’t Notice](https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/silent-manipulations-people-dont-notice-bookbite/56807/) * TED Talk: Dark Patterns - How design seeks to control us [Dark Patterns - How design seeks to control us](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJUW0iZzAaQ) * Netflix: *The Social Dilemma* (2020). This is a well known documentary examining social media platforms including how dark patterns are employed to manipulate users. **Written** * The *Deceptive Patterns* website has a great collection of manipulative, deceptive and coercive design patterns in the digital world: [Deceptive Patterns](https://deceptive.design/) * A Cass Sunstein article in The Guardian: [Why we need a right not to be manipulated](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/27/why-we-need-a-right-not-to-be-manipulated) * Cass Sunstein in an interview: [Cass Sunstein on Manipulation and AI](https://apablog.substack.com/p/cass-sunstein-on-manipulation-and)

Dracula by Bram Stoker | Sun 4 Oct 2026

The Man Who Fell In Love With The Moon by Tom Spanbaurer

Meeting at the usual place at The Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills, central Sydney, we will be discussing The Man Who Fell in Love With the Moon (1991). This is a coming-of-age novel. Written in a poetic, unconventional style, the novel is a celebration of queer identity and a dark meditation on survival, desire, and the need to find one’s own place in the world. Available in hard copy from amazon (about $20), or local libraries. A pdf can be downloaded from https://files.catbox.moe/hxq5dv.pdf There will be about 10 of us and we meet upstairs at the Shakespeare. Ask at the bar or look for the sign. We are a friendly lot and newcomers are welcome. Contact dalemilles@cantab.net for further details!

First Sunday Bookclub- Author Arundhati Roy

Building AI Agents That Remember, Reason, and Act

Hello Amazonians, For our next AWS Sydney Meetup, **MongoDB** and **PolarSeven** are bringing together two practical talks exploring what it takes to build AI agents for real-world environments! **🎤 Hear from:** **Mark Sailba, Senior Solutions Architect @ MongoDB** *Building AI Agents That Remember, Reason, and Act* *AI agents are moving beyond simple prompt-and-response experiences, but getting them to reliably complete real-world tasks requires more than a capable model. In this session, we’ll explore the architecture behind production-ready agents: how memory and context help agents maintain continuity, how data and tools enable meaningful action, and how governance, observability, and state management support secure operation at scale. Using AWS and MongoDB, we’ll share practical patterns for building agents that can remember what matters, reason over enterprise context, and act with confidence.* **Florian Huebscher, Cloud Support Engineer @ PolarSeven** *Talk title TBC* After the talks, stick around for networking, pizzas, and drinks with the local AWS Sydney User Group community! 🍻🍕🤤 **Agenda:** 17:30 - Arrive & drinks 18:00 - Introductions 18:05 - Talk 1: *Building AI Agents That Remember, Reason, and Act* Mark Sailba, Senior Solutions Architect @ MongoDB 18:35 - Talk 2: *TBC* Florian Huebscher, Cloud Support Engineer @ PolarSeven 19:05 - Networking, food, and drinks! 🍻🍕 **Event details:** 🗓️ Date: Wed, 7 October 2026 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM 📍 Location: Level 8/2 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000 *(Please enter via Kent St to access the building).* RSVP now to save your spot. We look forward to seeing you there! Cheers, **The PolarSeven Team** *Would you like to present? Complete [this form](https://forms.gle/GAqrJggTjme6Uzsu6) and we'll be in touch soon.*

Cognitive benefits of reading fiction

Inspired by my book club meetings, I want to explore and discuss reading fiction and how it affects our minds, especially in the realms of imagination and personal development. Please listen to the following podcast (All In The Mind - BBC) and/or read the open source journal article (Science Direct) 1. How does reading fiction impact our imagination and mental health? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002wv4n 2. The benefits of reading narrative fiction (10-12 paragraphs or 4 pages) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X26001065

Secrets - by Judi Morrison

Dracula by Bram Stoker | Sat 10 Oct 2026

IN PERSON! Apache Kafka® x Apache Flink®Meetup - Oct 2026

Hello everyone! Join us for an Apache Kafka® meetup on **Oct 13th from 5:30pm**, hosted by Mantel in Sydney! The address, agenda, and speaker information can be found below. See you there! **Venue**: Mantel Level 21, 580 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 \*\*\* **Agenda:** * 5:30pm: Doors open * 5:30pm - 6:00pm: Pizza, Drinks, and Networking * 6:00pm - 6:30pm: Jaehyeon Kim, Senior Data Engineer, Kasada * 6:30pm - 7:00pm: Chris Arthur, Customer Success Engineering Manager, Confluent * 7:00pm - 7:30pm: Additional Networking \*\*\* **Speaker:** Jaehyeon Kim, Senior Data Engineer, Kasada **Talk:** From Prototype to Production: Building a Real-Time ML Feedback Loop with Kafka and Flink **Abstract:** While many platforms power real-time decisions, most machine learning workflows remain stubbornly batch-oriented. This session presents a practical case study on redesigning an offline Python-based recommendation prototype into a highly scalable, real-time contextual bandit system built entirely on Apache Kafka and Apache Flink. We will explore how Kafka serves as the backbone of the feedback loop by managing real-time event ingestion and user feedback streams. From there, we will dive into how Apache Flink performs continuous, stateful online model training directly within the stream. Join this session to learn how to safely manage ML model state inside a distributed stream processor, decouple continuous Flink training from low-latency serving, and successfully integrate online learning workloads into your event-driven architectures. \-\-\-\-\- **Speaker:** Chris Arthur, Customer Success Engineering Manager, Confluent **Talk:** Atomic Writes Across Kafka and Your Database: What KIP-939 Changes **Abstract:** If you've ever built a system that writes to both Kafka and a database, you've hit the dual-write problem: how do you guarantee both writes succeed or fail together? Today's answer is usually the outbox pattern — a reliable but heavyweight workaround involving extra tables, pollers, and CDC pipelines. In this talk, we'll cover what 2PC participation actually means for Kafka's transaction protocol, how it differs from Kafka's existing exactly-once semantics, and what this unlocks for teams building event-driven systems that need real atomicity between Kafka and external stores. \*\*\* If you would like to speak or host our next event please let us know! community@[confluent.io](http://confluent.io/)