Together Culture's Social Change Book Club: Goliath's Curse by Luke Kemp

Together Culture's Social Change Book Club

One of the insights that emerged from the Together Culture Transition Co-Creation sessions is that members would like to develop a clearer understanding of Together Culture's Theory of Change and Community Design.

Heather and Ellie, Founders and Designers of both, would like to invite you to participate in two book clubs to deep dive into our foundations. One of the benefits of a less active period for Together Culture could be taking the time for more of us to develop the potential to be architects of our future. If this sounds appealing, please join us for two book clubs which we'll hold online this autumn:

1. Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse by Luke Kemp

Designed to develop a deep understanding of Together Culture's Theory of Change, led by Heather Thomas. Stay on this page to book your tickets.

2. The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging by Charles Vogl

Designed to develop a deep understanding of Together Culture's Community Design, led by Ellie Breeze. You can read more about this series and book tickets here.

Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse by Luke Kemp

Book and Discussion Club led by Heather Thomas

I'm a social sciences buff who likes looking for patterns to understand how we can shape different frameworks to create a more equitable and ecological world, because the two outcomes are interdependent. This summer, I've been reading Goliath's Curse by Luke Kemp, a senior research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. I have never read a more engaging assessment of how humans behave and create collaborative or competitive communities from the Paleolithic era to the present day. Kemp helps readers understand how the 'dominance hierarchies' in which we exist have so deeply seeped into our culture that whilst we recognise the resulting inequality, it is hard for us to understand how to transform our systems without adapting new mental models, reinforced by new cultural norms including stories, skills, and how we work together. For me, this was a validating treatise for the need for Together Culture to exist and the potential of a community designed for collaboration has the instructive potential to change how we organise society as a whole.

Want to join me in digging into our deep past and potential future? This is an online book club for Together Culture members near and far. My hope is that it helps us all more deeply understand, embody, and iterate our theory of change.

You can find a Guardian review of the book here: ‘Self-termination is most likely’: the history and future of societal collapse | Environment | The Guardian

It's a rich book, so the intent is to have three conversations with a few weeks between each to allow time to read and reflect. I'll send prompting questions a week before each session. At the beginning of each book club session, we'll ask all participants to contribute their own questions as well. Everyone is asked to find their own copy of the book.

Thursday 9 October from 7pm - 8.30pm, online

Thursday 6 November from 7pm - 8.30pm, online

Thursday 27 November from 7pm - 8.30pm, online

About Together Culture

Together Culture is a community led, Community Interest Company.

We are gathering a membership community united in their desire to help create a more equitable and ecological creative economy.

We provide facilities, creative leadership and entrepreneurial skills development, momentum, structure, and resources for people to come together and make change happen.

You can become a member of Together Culture here.