About us
The Reading Commons hosts small discussion groups built around carefully chosen essays and long-form journalism.
We read one excellent article each week and discuss it with curiosity, intellectual honesty, and respect.
Our first series is a weekly reading group built around The Atlantic. No expertise required—just curiosity and a willingness to read and investigate ideas together.
No need to have your own subscription to The Atlantic: I will provide a link to the article in the event listing.
Upcoming events
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Reading The Atlantic: September 2026 "The Cities That Said Yes to Drugs"
Switchyards Sylvan Park, 4521 Charlotte Ave Entrance on, 46th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209, USA, Nashville, TN, USPolicies that gave addicts clean needles and places to use drugs were intended to reduce harm. They created a “zombie apocalypse.”
What happens when compassion for people struggling with addiction collides with the needs of the wider community? This article takes a provocative look at harm-reduction policies in cities such as Seattle and Burlington, asking whether an approach intended to save lives has gone too far.
I will post a free link to the article two weeks before the the event.
Please reach out to me if you need assistance getting a copy of "The Cities That Said Yes to Drugs" by Michael Powell.
Note: the digital edition also has an audio version available if you prefer to listen.
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The Atlantic is perhaps America's most important journal. For nearly 170 years it has traced the unfolding cultural and political story of the United States printing articles from W.E.B Dubois and Mark to Ta-Nehisi Coates and David Brooks.
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Past events
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