November Democracy Book Club
Featured Book
Hope in the Dark
About This Event
When the news feels heavy, where do we find the will to keep going? This month, the Democracy Book Club reads Rebecca Solnit’s Hope in the Dark , a short, powerful case for hope as a call to action, drawn from the surprising, often overlooked ways change actually happens. We’re joined by special guest PA Rep. Jennifer O’Mara for the conversation. Come with your questions, your doubts, and your ideas for what comes next. Space is limited to just 25 people, so be sure to register today!
About the Venue
Celia Bookshop
We are a woman-owned independent bookstore in the heart of Swarthmore offering a curated selection of new books including bestsellers, classics, and a large children's section. Community-centered, Celia is more than a bookstore—it’s a place to connect, explore, and find something you didn’t know you were looking for.
Visit store pageMore at Celia Bookshop
Author Talk & Q+A with Dr. Karabi Acharya
Join us to celebrate Multitudes with author and public health expert Dr. Karabi Acharya , in conversation with author Kat Yeh . Together, they’ll discuss Multitudes and its exploration of identity, being multiracial, belonging, connection, and the experiences that shape who we are. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, book signing, and wine and cheese reception.
November Prose for the Planet
What would it take to build a future of greater possibility? In Abundance , New York Times journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson explore how politics, policy, and bureaucracy can stand in the way of progress—and how we might rethink our approach to housing, clean energy, infrastructure, and more. Join Phil Coleman, founder of AFewSteps, an environmental nonprofit, for a conversation about the book’s ideas, the challenges they raise, and what it might look like to embrace a more ambitious vision for the future.
Author Talk + Q&A with Chinelo Okparanta
Join us to celebrate This Impossible Life , the new novel from acclaimed author Chinelo Okparanta, director of the creative writing program at Swarthmore College, in conversation with bestselling novelist Nicole Dennis-Benn. They’ll discuss Okparanta’s new book and its exploration of love, identity, family, belonging, and the choices that shape the lives we build for ourselves. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, book signing, and wine and cheese reception.