What we’re about
Welcome to Premise: Big Questions, Real Conversation
Premise is a space for thoughtful people who crave more than small talk. Each session starts with a big, timeless question—like What is freedom?, Are we our work?, or How much is enough?—and pairs it with a short piece of art, literature, or film. We use those works to spark meaningful conversations.
Who Should Join:
Premise is for curious adults of all ages who value depth over debate, and connection over consensus. You don’t need a philosophy degree—just a willingness to read or watch something short ahead of time and come ready to think and talk with others in the community.
What to Expect:
Each session is structured and deeply engaging. You'll receive a short prep email (usually 1–1.5 hours of reading or viewing and we provided the text), then meet in person for a guided conversation. There’s no lecturing, just a guided dialogue designed to help you listen, reflect, and connect. Expect surprising insights, genuine connection, and the kind of conversation that lingers long after it ends.
Premise events are currently held in 8 cities across the US, with more to come in 2025!
Upcoming events
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•OnlineAre we our work? Selected chapters from David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs
OnlineThis session is hosted by Premise. Meetup members can attend the session at no cost.
We ask that you sign up to attend the session on the Premise website so we can send you the pdf of the reading, Zoom link, and add you to the calendar invite directly.
🔗 Session details and registration: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/are-we-our-work-4
💸 Use the code "spokanemeetup" if you're unable to pay and want to attend at no cost. We use all registration fees to grow and expand Premise and provide guided, meaningful conversations for as many people as possible in the U.S.
📍 This is an online session — Zoom link provided after registration.
Are We Our Work?
Selected chapters from David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs
⏱️ Preparation: ~1.5 hours of reading (we’ll send a pdf of chapters after you sign up)
We will send you the reading and Zoom link after you've registered on the Premise site.
Description:
David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs makes a bold claim: millions of people, especially in white-collar jobs, secretly believe their work is meaningless—and it’s messing with their sense of self.
In this session, we’ll explore the strange paradox of modern labor: Why do we tie our identity so tightly to what we do, even when the work feels pointless? And what happens when we start to question that link?
We’ll explore questions like:
— What makes a job “bullshit”? And who gets to decide?
— Why does meaningless work create such deep psychological harm?
— If your job vanished tomorrow, how much of you would go with it?
— Can we imagine a society where people work less—and still feel fulfilled?
What to Expect:
✔️ A short, thought-provoking reading (~2 hrs to read in advance)
✔️ An opportunity to zoom out and do some "sense-making" together before we talk about the reading
✔️ A small group conversation guided by a facilitator
✔️ No lectures—just real talk about life’s big questions
Whether you’re retired, hustling, burned out, or just wondering what your job actually contributes—you’ll find good company here. Together, we'll try to make sense of the question: Are we our work?1 attendee
Past events
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![[online] What is home? (Joan Didion, Angelou, Wendell Berry)](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/d/4/e/highres_531011598.jpeg)
