Smart Reads
Join in the Smart Museum of Art’s virtual book club, Smart Reads!
Smart Reads aims to foster care within our community during an unprecedented time of collective social anxiety and separation. Over the next year, we invite you to delve into books surrounding love, art, culture, politics, relationships, and more. Each book selection features a series of small group conversations hosted by Dorian H. Nash, along with guest facilitators.
FREE. To help build a community of participants, capacity is limited and advanced registration is required.
May and June 2022 book selection
Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics
bell hooks
In May, explore intersections the nature of feminism through a short, accessible primer by bell hooks. Learn more and register »
Schedule
- Part I : Wednesday, May 25, 6 pm
- Part II: Wednesday, June 1, 6 pm
March 2022 book selection
Bearden’s Odyssey
Poets Respond to the Art of Romare Bearden
In March, explore intersections of art and poetry in conjunction with the exhibition Bob Thompson: This House Is Mine.
Schedule
- Part I : Wednesday, March 2, 6 pm
- Part II: Wednesday, March 9, 6 pm
December 2021 book selection
The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air
Three Godly Discourses by Soren Kierkegard
In December, join us for a discussion of Søren Kierkegaard's short masterpiece, The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air.
Schedule
- Part I : Thursday, December 9, 6 pm
- Part II: Thursday, December 16, 6 pm
Fall 2021 book selection
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Join us for the October edition of Smart Reads as we reflect on we reflect on Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, a book that is as much about the power of telling one's own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard.
Schedule
- Part I : Thursday, October 14, 6 pm
- Part II: Thursday, October 21, 6 pm
Summer 2021 book selection
The Undercommons
Join us for the June edition of Smart Reads as we reflect on The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black Study by Fred Moten. This program is presented in conjunction with Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40.
Schedule
- Part I : Thursday, June 17, 6 pm
- Part II: Thursday, April 24, 6 pm
Spring 2021 book selection
Love is the Way
In our April Smart Reads selection, Love is the Way, Bishop Michael Curry offers an inspirational road map for living the way of love, illuminated with moving lessons from his own life. We invite you to read along with us and engage in two thought-provoking conversations with host Dorian H. Nash.
Schedule
- Part I : Thursday, April 15, 6 pm
- Part II: Thursday, April 22, 6 pm
Winter 2021 book selection
The Four Agreements
In our first selection of 2021, The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. We invite you to read along with us and engage in two thought-provoking conversations with host Dorian H. Nash.
Schedule
- Part I : Thursday, February 18, 6 pm
- Part II: Thursday, February 25, 6 pm
Fall 2020 book selection
All About Love
Our first selection, All About Love is by feminist icon bell hooks. We invite you to read along with us and engage in three thought-provoking conversations with host Dorian H. Nash and special guest facilitator, Erika Dudley.
Schedule
- Part I : Thursday, November 5, 5 pm
- Part II: Thursday, November 12, 5 pm
- Part III: Thursday, November 19, 5 pm
Stay tuned for our next Smart Reads book selection!