Book Swaps Sydney

JUNE BOOK –'Theo of Golden' by Allen Levy

'A Little Lumpen Novelita' by Roberto Bolano

Please join us for an afternoon of wild discussion about a dark but short modern classic! We usually have about 12+ participants as most come from outside of Meetup :)

June Books and Bevvies

**Welcome along to Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap + 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** - 1 book (any genre, any reading level) **Good to know** *All genres and reading levels are welcome - No fee, but please purchase your own food/drinks from the venue - The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing. If you can't make it please change your RSVP. Repeated no-shows = removal from the group. **Where we’ll be** We’ll be in the **Market Street Garden Bar**, with a table full of books and bevvies.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, on June 4, 2026, at 7.00pm, we will be discussing To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This is the most recent 'classic' we have discussed in the group. Published in 1960, the novel is a cornerstone of American literature. Set in Alabama during the Great Depression, the story is narrated by 'Scout,' a young girl who grows up while observing the racial politics of the Deep South. Scout's father, Atticus Finich, is appointed to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Despite evidence showing that Tom could not have raped her, the all-white jury convicts. There is a vast industry discussing this novel. The still photo shows the characters Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson from the 1963 movie (available on youtube). The format of the meeting is that we chat about the book in a focused way for about an hour. Then the meeting formally ends. Almost everyone stay behind to chat more about the book and other things bookish.

June Book Club on AI: Empire of AI

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. After discussing collapse, our third book club will examine one of the key drivers of collapse: artificial intelligence. Karen Hao's international bestseller "Empire of AI" is as illuminating as it is brilliantly written. It's precisely the book we need to be clear-eyed about the much-hyped sector of AI. "An eye-opening account of the tech arms race shaping out planet, from an award-winning journalist and AI insider to the world of Sam Altman and OpenAI... In exhilarating prose and with unparalleled access to those closest to Sam Altman, Hao recounts the meteoric rise of OpenAI and shows us the sinister impact that this industry is having on society." https://www.amazon.com.au/Empire-AI-Inside-reckless-domination/dp/1802064656/ We will be meeting at the Erko Hotel, in the open area in the back. There's no fee, but please purchase your own food/drinks from the venue. If you have trouble getting the book, message me. It's okay if you haven't finished the book by the time of the event, but please at least try -- the more the merrier! If the RSVP list is full, please join the waiting list 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. Please try to be on time as we start and end on time. Look forward to seeing you there.

Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig

**Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel (upstairs) at 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills on Thursday 11 June 2026 at 7.00pm, we will be discussing *Kiss of the Spider Woman* (1976) by** Manuel Puig. The novel explores the relationship between two cellmates in an Argentine prison. One has been imprisoned for 'corrupting a minor,' while the other is a Marxist revolutionary. The narrative has a unique structure, primarily consisting of the two men's dialogue and the use of (fictional) footnotes discussing the psychology of homosexuality and gender. The novel is celebrated for how it weaves together themes of political oppression and sexual liberation, suggesting that personal and political freedom are inextricably linked. The novel was faithfully adapted into the 1985 film of the same name, available on youtube. Available from local libraries. Soft copies available from the usual places. Contact [dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net) for a free pdf. We meet upstairs in a semi-private room conducive to discussion. We talk about the book in a fairly focused way for about 45 mins and then the meeting formally ends. Almost everyone stays back to talk more about the book or anything else. Although the meeting starts at 7.00pm, people start to arrive up to an hour earlier for drinks and food.

Pachinko - by Min Jin Lee

Gay Ladies First Sunday Bookclub share what you have been reading

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty | Sun 7 Jun 2026

Philosophy Discussion: Nietzsche's Human, All Too Human

We will be meeting to discuss Nietzsche's 1878 work *Human, All Too Human: A Book For Free Spirits.* This works marks a turning point in his philosophy. Written after his break with Richard Wagner and growing distance from Arthur Schopenhauer, the book abandons grand metaphysical claims in favor of a more skeptical, psychological approach. In a series of sharp, aphoristic reflections, Nietzsche examines morality, religion, art, and human relationships—not as expressions of timeless truths, but as products of historical development, habit, and human need. Often seen as Nietzsche’s “free spirit” phase, *Human, All Too Human* offers a more restrained and analytical voice than his later works. It draws heavily on Enlightenment influences and raises a central question: what happens when we subject our highest ideals to critical, historical scrutiny? Because of the books aphoristic style it is very accessible for those less comfortable with longer texts while still being full of philosophical insight and depth. As you read it may be helpful to focus in on certain aphorisms and note them down for group discussion. This meeting will take place Monday, June 1 at 7 PM at the UTS Library 61 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007 on Level 3. The meeting is open to all.

Sunday Coffee + Kinokuniya Bookshop Browsing

Hello, we are back! **✨** Lets grab coffee/tea/matcha/sweet treat at the dulcet cafe (the cafe right next to the bookshop) and browse Kinokuniya bookshop on 31/5/26 Sunday **Address**: Located in Books Kinokuniya, Level 2/500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 (Only 3 mins walk from Townhall station!)

The Trolley Problem: Would you kill the fat man?

Chances are you've heard some version of this before, but it's worth revisiting. A runaway trolley is hurtling down the tracks toward five unsuspecting workers. You're standing on a footbridge above, and beside you is a large man. If you push him onto the tracks, his body will stop the trolley. He will die—but the five will live. Would you do it? What if pushing him saved a hundred people? This is no idle riddle. Our responses to this famous thought experiment (and many variants of it) reveal how we weigh consequences, rights, and intentions, and how our moral intuitions can clash with our moral reasoning. Moreover, these choices matter in the real world. From foreseeable risks to civilian lives in military action, to public‑health decisions about allocating scarce vaccines, to autonomous vehicles deciding who to save in a crash, trolley problems offer an accessible way to confront the hard edges of moral decision‑making in the modern age. Let's dive in. ***Primary Reading: [An Introduction to the Trolley Problem](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQCJWblmfROdQ57-BP0B6yCtAarIwZk1SPyFG157nZiDWN0?e=hjP4jO)*** (document prepared for this discussion) ***(Optional) Book: Would You Kill the Fat Man? The Trolley Problem and What Your Answer Tells Us About Right and Wrong (2014) by David Edmonds*** For this meetup, we’ve prepared a 40-page guide that introduces the Trolley Problem, its philosophical significance, and what neuroscience has learned from using it to study moral decision-making. The guide includes sixteen scenarios, each probing different aspects of moral thinking: How do we weigh consequences against rights? Does intention matter more than outcomes? Do personal relationships override impartial calculation? When is it acceptable to use one person to save many? These scenarios reveal the complexity of our moral intuitions and will form the heart of our discussion. Hopefully the prepared guide will leave you wanting more. If so, David Edmonds' *Would You Kill the Fat Man?* is a wonderful next step. Edmonds traces the fascinating history of the Trolley Problem, examines philosophers who've wrestled with it, and explains the competing moral frameworks with clarity and wit. It's highly readable and brings real depth to these abstract dilemmas—but it's entirely optional. The guide has everything you need for our discussion. 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 put links below on further resources on the topic. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 1st June, 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 other people 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** * A TED-Ed explainer on basic trolley problems: [Would you sacrifice one person to save five? (5 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg16u_bzjPE&t=1s) * Michael Sandel starts his famous Harvard justice lecture course with some trolley problems: [ Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdfcR-8hEY) * Podcast with David Edmonds, author of our book, on trolley problems: [Philosophy Bytes - Trolley Problems](https://philosophybites.com/podcast/david-edmonds-on-trolley-problems/) * Podcast with Prof Joshua Greene, a pioneer on applying neuroscience to the trolley problem: [Trolleyology with Dr Joshua Greene (1.22 hr)](https://www.alieward.com/ologies/trolleyology) * TED-Ed on self-driving car scenarios [The ethical dilemma of self-driving cars (4 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixIoDYVfKA0) * A real-life version of the trolley problem staged with unsuspecting participants!: [The trolley problem in real life (35 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sl5KJ69qiA&t=158s) * For fans of *The Good Place*, you’ll remember the ever-indecisive philosophy professor Chidi facing a real life trolley problem: [The Good Place – The Trolley Problem (3 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtRhrfhP5b4) * If you want to brush up on your utilitarianism and Kant’s categorical imperative, see these two Crash Course Philosophy videos: [Utilitarianism: Crash Course Philosophy (10 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI) [Kant & Categorical Imperatives: Crash Course Philosophy (10 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bIys6JoEDw) **Written** * A nice easter egg for anyone who has read down the page this far (from the Utilitarianism.com website): [Would You Kill the Fat Man?](https://www.utilitarianism.com/trolley-problem.pdf) * Encyclopedia Entries: [Wikipedia - The Trolley Problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem) [Wikipedia - Dual Process Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_process_theory) [Britannica - The Trolley Problem](https://www.britannica.com/topic/trolley-problem) * A Conversation piece on AI systems and trolley problems [The self‑driving trolley problem](https://theconversation.com/the-self-driving-trolley-problem-how-will-future-ai-systems-make-the-most-ethical-choices-for-all-of-us-170961) * If you want to play with some moral dilemmas in autonomous vehicle crash scenarios and see how your choices compare globally: [Moral Machine - Moral Decisions and Machine Intelligence](https://www.moralmachine.net/)