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 »

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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Stay tuned for our next Smart Reads book selection!