Book Clubs Sydney

The Immigration Debate: Myths, Facts and Ethics

Immigration is one of the most emotionally charged issues in global politics today. No other issue generates as much heat, fear, or political division. But how much of what we hear about immigration is true? What are its actual effects on jobs, housing, public services, innovation and social cohesion? Has global migration actually been increasing — and do border restrictions even work? And even if we could agree on the facts, what ethical principles should guide our thinking? Do people have a right to seek a better life across borders? What do wealthy nations owe to those displaced by poverty, conflict, or climate change? How should we balance compassion, fairness, freedom and national self-determination? Join us for a thoughtful discussion as we explore one of the most important and controversial global questions of our time. **Book: *How Migration Really Works – A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics* (2023) by Hein de Haas** **Companion Reading:** ***[The Ethics of Migration - An Introductory Guide v3](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQBTPryri9fhQ7DbyWSM78dqARlLVy5RSfRYrrllo-s5zb8?e=JElK3l)*** (prepared for this meetup) **Essential Ideas at a Glance: *[Infographics, Tables and Summaries on Migration Myths](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDhmc7ksrVEQ5ZHZukMnbGZAWgYg_puO_IQhUu976w6aog?e=NLFebq)*** (prepared for this meetup) For this month’s meetup we have two principal readings that approach migration from complementary angles: one examines the myths and realities of migration across the world, while the other explores its ethical dimensions. In *How Migration Really Works*, Dutch migration scholar Hein de Haas argues that much of the public debate is driven by myths and misunderstandings. Although Australia receives some attention, this is not a book specifically about the Australian migration debate; it is a wide-ranging account grounded in decades of international research. De Haas explores questions such as whether migration is increasing, whether immigration lowers wages, whether immigration fixes the problem of an ageing population, and whether governments can effectively control migration flows. The result is a nuanced and evidence-based account of migration. The accompanying guide to the ethics of immigration examines the deeper questions that facts alone cannot answer. Even if we agree on the evidence, what should immigration policy aim to achieve? The guide introduces the major ethical perspectives and arguments from across the political spectrum, providing a framework for thoughtful and informed discussion. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before you attend. This will enrich both your experience and our collective discussion. We’ve also included some further resources below that you may find useful. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 3rd August, 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** * Two presentations by Hein de Haas on his book: [How Migration Really Works (1hr)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuwiwD67AjM) [How Migration Really Works (45mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89jS8FRkRCI) * A collection of short videos by de Haas: [Migration 101](https://heindehaas.org/migration-101/) * Harvard’s Michael Sandel convenes a debate on the ethics of national borders with the help of the BBC and a group of participants from over 30 countries: [The Global Philosopher - Should Borders Matter?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03njc35) * Debating Open Borders: Carl vs Caplan (2023) Noah Carl and Bryan Caplan debate the merits of open borders: [Spotify - Open Borders Debate](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Q8DMpZU4pUdRkA2Zv1hMo) [Apple - Open Borders Debate](https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/debating-open-borders-carl-vs-caplan/id1569224821?i=1000636401848) **Written** * Essential Ideas at a Glance: ***[Infographics, Tables and Summaries on Migration Myths](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDhmc7ksrVEQ5ZHZukMnbGZAWgYg_puO_IQhUu976w6aog?e=NLFebq)*** (prepared for this meetup) * Hein de Haas's substack articles: [Hans de Haas’s substack](https://heindehaas.substack.com/) * Immigration Ethics - An Overview (in 999 words!): [Immigration Ethics Summary](https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2026/04/01/immigration-ethics/) * Encyclopedia Entries: [Stanford - Arguments for Open and Closed Borders](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/immigration/) [Wikipedia – Opposition to Migration Arguments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_immigration) * Reviews of How Migration Really Works: [How Migration Really Works - Review](https://www.e-ir.info/2024/09/15/review-how-migration-really-works/)

August 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. I’ll have a jar near the sign-in list on the day. Please feel free to contribute 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.

The Death of Death: Should We Choose To Live Forever?

What if ageing were optional? A small, extraordinarily wealthy group of people — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Peter Thiel among them — are betting billions that it could become so within our lifetimes. They are funding gene therapies, plasma clinics, AI drug discovery programmes, and private city-states designed to sit beyond the reach of ordinary regulation, all pointed at a single goal: the abolition of death. Some of this is serious science. Some of it is alchemy with a better press team. But before the science catches up with the ambition — if it ever does — the personal, social, and political questions are already here. Would you choose five centuries of life, or even to live indefinitely — more time to love, to learn, to taste everything the world has to offer? Or would you find, on reflection, that something essential about a human life depends on it being finite? What happens to marriage when it lasts for centuries? To democracy when the same people hold power for hundreds of years? To inheritance (that might never arrive!), to ambition ('I can always do it later'), to the feeling that today is precious rather than just one more day in an endless supply? So join us as we pull apart this fascinating and unsettling territory, where Silicon Valley hubris meets some of the oldest questions in philosophy. **Book: *The Immortalists: The Death of Death and the Race for Eternal Life* (2025) by Aleks Krotoski** **Companion reading:** ***[A Guide to the Personal, Social, and Political Questions of Radical Life Extension](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDyh0ZXuhOXSY1hShIPivrVAb994lzRy8NuznN6KIb52lM?e=heHTTk)***[ ](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDyh0ZXuhOXSY1hShIPivrVAb994lzRy8NuznN6KIb52lM?e=heHTTk) (prepared for this meetup) *The Immortalists* is a sharp investigation into the people, science, money, and politics behind Silicon Valley’s war on death. Krotoski — a psychologist, BBC broadcaster, and veteran technology reporter — takes us from immortality cults in the Arizona desert and biohacking clinics in Los Angeles to the corridors of Washington and a private city in Honduras where unapproved gene therapies are on the menu. Along the way, she meets the geroscientists doing genuinely important work on the biology of ageing, the billionaire investors pouring huge sums into longevity start-ups, the lobbyists rewriting FDA regulations in their own interests, and the true believers who have concluded that death is not a fact of life but a failure of engineering. The result is gripping reported journalism, a sober account of what the science has actually established, and a serious political warning about what happens when the people trying to live forever start writing the rules for everyone else. In addition, we’ve prepared a 35-page companion document that draws out the personal, social, and political questions raised by radical life extension. The Krotoski book spends considerable time on the science and on the people pursuing it, but our discussion is likely to centre on the human consequences: whether we would actually want vastly longer lives; what they would do to relationships, work, inequality, democracy, and meaning; and who would benefit if the technology ever became real. The companion document is intended to give us a shared map of these issues, so the conversation can move beyond the biology and into the questions most likely to matter around the table. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before you attend; it will enrich both your own experience and the discussion as a whole. We’ve also included some further resources below for anyone who wants to go deeper. We’ll meet for a drink — and an optional meal — at 6:30pm on Monday, 7 September, on the second floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surry Hills. The venue is close to Central Station and the light rail. We look forward to seeing you there! P.S. If you RSVP yes and later find you can’t make it, please update your RSVP so someone else can take the spot if there’s 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** * Interviews and Podcasts with Aleks Krotoski: [Intelligence Squared – Could Billionaires Cure Ageing (1 hr)](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DgTxyg8YezFkX391FNOmX) [BBC Radio 4 World at One (18 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTQ-tZfRFW8) * A collection of 15 min BBC Podcasts by Aleks Krotoski: [The Immortals Podcast](https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p0hl8knd) * Venki Ramakrishnan on the biology of death and aging and why the immortalists' timeline is wildly optimistic: [Sean Carroll's Mindscape with Venki Ramakrishnan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNqwamgxNiU) * Four Corners (ABC iview) *The Race to Reverse Ageing* (July 2026) * Netflix documentary: *Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever* (2025). A documentary on the daily routines, family plasma exchange, and the "Don't Die" philosophy of tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who appears prominently in the book. * An explainer video on the science and ethics of radical life extension: [Billionaires Trying to Live Forever - Honest Truth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5kMFzndPiM) **Written** * Articles on radical life extension: [The Ethics of Radical Life Extension](https://www.scu.edu/ethics/all-about-ethics/radical-life-extension/) [Three arguments against extending the human lifespan](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2652797/) * Reviews of *The Immortalists*: [The Guardian - The Immortalists](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/23/the-immortalists-by-aleks-krotoski-review-the-downsides-of-cheating-death) * An article version on the ABC Four Corners episode on biohacking and anti-aging science: [ABC - The Race to Reverse Ageing](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-19/biohacking-anti-aging-science-promise-to-extend-human-lifespan/106923024) * An unfortunate update on biohacker Bryan Johnson (from Netflix series above): [A recent health update on Bryan Johnson](https://futurism.com/health-medicine/bryan-johnson-autoimmune-disease) * Two other relevant books for those wanting to dig deeper into this topic: *\- Morbid: Debunking Modern Longevity Science* (2026) by Saul Newman. To be released in August, the author uses dark humour and rigorous evidence to expose the systemic data errors and corporate grifting behind popular anti-aging trends like "Blue Zones" and youth-blood transfusions. *\- Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality* (2024) by Venki Ramakrishnan. This book provides a lucid and authoritative look at the biological mechanisms of cellular degeneration, balancing the realistic limits of our current biotechnology against the hyped promises of the immortality movement.

Emma by Jane Austen

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, at 7.00pm on Thursday 6 August 2026, we will be discussing *Emma* by Jane Austen. *Emma* is compared to *1984* for being a book that many people think they have read but haven't. It tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, a headstrong woman in Regency England, who fills up her time with meddling in the romantic lives of her neighbors. Meanwhile, she is oblivious to her own needs, her social blunders and her misunderstandings. *Emma* is frequently cited by scholars as Austen's most technically perfect novel. It is the gold standard for 'free indirect discourse,' a style where the narrator’s voice blends seamlessly with the protagonist’s thoughts. This allows the reader to experience Emma’s delusions and biases in real-time, creating a sophisticated psychological portrait. Being a well-read lot, I suspect that the group as a whole will have read all six of Austen's novels. This will be a great discussion to honour the 250th anniversary of Austen's birth. The format of the meeting is that we will discuss the novel in a fairly focused way for an hour, and then the meeting formally ends. Most people stay back and speak more about the novel or anything else.

Book Club – London Falling AND The Correspondent!

The Complete Works of Jane Austen (play at the Genesian)

A comedy of errors leads to two actors needing to perform the complete works of Jane Austen in one play. Can it be done? I (Dale) will be going along to the Genesian Theatre on Sunday 9 August 2026 to see this play. Come along and enjoy the fun! We can talk about the play at a local pub afterwards. Tickets are about $35 and need to be bought from the website at https://genesiantheatre.com.au/

Western Classics Bookclub Social

This is a social meet up for those who physically come along to the Western Classics Book Club discussions. There is no particular book to be discussed. But just try and stop us from talking about what we are reading at the moment! We will be meeting in the Two Tables Room.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, at 7.00pm on Thursday 3 September 2026, we will be discussing Anne of Green Gables (1908). This was the first in a series of Anne stories by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Adapted many times for TV and movies, it is set in a rural part of Canada, Prince Edward Island. It is the story of a middle-aged brother and sister, who want to adopt a strapping young boy to help with the labouring on their small farm. Due to a confusion in communication and much to their disappointment, they get a skinny 12 year-old girl. Their disappointment at getting a girl is replaced with an affection for the young orphan and they allow her to stay at their home. Often seen at first glance as little more than a 'girl's novel,' it is a very moving story with very grown-up themes: life and death, duty and sacrifice, loyalty and loss, and the celebration of beauty in the commonplace. The format of the meeting is that we talk about the novel in a focused way for about 50 mins. People speak one at a time and everyone gets a say. The meeting then formally ends, with almost everyone staying back and talking more in small informal groups about the novel or anything else.

Romance Writers of Australia - Sydney Meetup

This is our monthly meet-up!! This is a social group for local romance writers to discuss all things craft, publishing, and overall a chance to connect with other writers and refill the creative well. This is a group designated for ROMANCE writers (romantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, etc.). Please review the group's description for further information. We do not read sections/give feedback during these meetings unlike many other writing groups. Please save some trees and do not print/bring copies of your work during the meet-up.

Offline Night

**A mid-week escape with no distractions, new people, and good drinks.** ​ **Offline Night** is part of OffMode’s July event series - slow social gatherings for people who want more from their free time than rushing, scrolling, and saying they’ll make time for their hobbies “soon.” ​Think low lights, good drinks, shared tables, and easy conversations with people who also chose to spend their Thursday night differently. ​The night starts slow. ​Arrive, put your phone away, and step out of the week for a while. Read, journal, sketch, write, or simply do nothing and relax. We’ll have creative materials around if you feel like picking something up. ​Then, the room comes alive. ​Conversations start. Tables mix. Strangers become familiar. The night gets warmer, louder, and a little more unexpected - the way it does when people are actually in the room with each other. ​Come alone. Come curious. Come as you are. ​**A better mid-week ritual starts here.** ## How the night unfolds: ​**5:30pm – 5:45pm \| Arrive & settle in** Put your phone away, get cosy & grab a drink ​**6:00pm – 7:00pm \| Connect with yourself** Read the book you keep meaning to open. Journal. Sketch. Write. Explore a new hobby. This is time to slow down, rediscover your creativity, and remember what you enjoy when no one is asking you to be productive. ​**7:00pm – 8:00pm \| Connect with others** Join a game, follow a conversation, meet someone new. This part of the night is all about making connection feel easy - no pressure, just people in the same room choosing to be present. ​**8:00pm – 8:30pm \| Wrap\-up** Get your phone back and step into the rest of your week feeling lighter, calmer, and more present.

Stoics by the River: Parramatta Park

Unlike other philosophies, Stoicism was named after a place not a person, making it accessible to ALL people. In ancient greco-roman times people would meet at the Stoa, where they would discuss Stoic Philosophy. We can meet in the park just as the stoic sages 1,000s of years ago. ​Join us on the second Saturday of every month as we expand our circle to Parramatta Park. For this series, we will be reading through and discussing the works of Epictetus. ​ You can find a free version online. ​No need to do any homework, we will read together and discuss. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts and practicing these ancient perspectives in a modern setting. ​Event fee (optional) is $2. This goes toward the admin costs of running the group. Please consider I am traveling from Wollongong to keep this group active and thrive; I have significant travel expenses and generally organise creative events that take resources. A gratuity would be a wonderful way to make me feel appreciated. ​PayID: 0416147804 ​PayPal: paypal.me/jonnikaren or ​Private message for direct deposit details. ​In lieu of an event fee, you can always buy me a coffee :) ​See you there!

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke | Sun 2 Aug 2026