We are thrilled to announce the second season of Critical Conversations, an expert-led discussion series that will allow Library members to delve deeper into pressing topics. We believe open debate is vital to a healthy democracy, and the aim of these series is to foster a sense of community while also promoting civic discourse and engagement. Our hope is that participants will join us to educate and challenge themselves—through reading and dialogue. Alice McCrum, the Library's Programs Manager, continues to shape the series, and looks forward to hearing your feedback. We hope you sign up now.

The program returns in October with the urgent issue of the environmental crisis led by Jennifer Wenzel, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature and of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York.

Critical Conversations participants will attend a series of three, ninety-minute sessions, with short readings distributed in advance. Wenzel will begin each meeting with some opening remarks, before guiding a group discussion. The series will be held in-person at the Library. Series size will be capped at twenty participants to encourage meaningful participation across the group.

Meeting* dates and topics:

Thursday 28th October // Meeting 1: Groundwork

Wednesday 10th November // Meeting 2: Running out of Gas; How to Read for Oil

Thursday 18th November // Meeting 3: The New Normal? What Futures do We Want?

*All meetings will begin at 19h CET and run for 90 minutes.

For more information, please contact Alice McCrum at mccrum@americanlibraryinparis.org.