When Abraham Lincoln won the presidency on November 6, 1860, it sparked five chaotic months that led the nation to the brink of Civil War. In his latest work of popular history, Erik Larson draws on a rich collection of primary sources to bring these tense, pivotal months to life.  Please read the book so you can participate in our structured, facilitated, Zoom discussion.  (Note: Please join the meeting at 3 pm if you would like some assistance using the features of Zoom.  Otherwise, join us at 3:15 pm for the start of our discussion.) (See other book discussions: #515, 555, 632)  

Even if you attended Molly’s talk in January 2025, you won’t want to miss this program. Each session builds on the other — with Part II offering deeper analysis of themes introduced in Part I. Part I: Key Factors in the Current Chaos This segment examines the regional demographic, economic, and policy factors in the evolving period of the Arab unrest through the Hamas October, 2023 attack on Israel and the aftermath. Part II: Shifting Alliances and New Fault Lines This segment examines the regional impacts of the Abraham Accords, the attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah, the fall of Syria's Assad regime, and the Israel-Iran-US military engagements. There will be a break for lunch between Part I and Part II.

Dave Brubeck was a gifted jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, but even more than that, he helped redefine the sound of 20th century American music. We'll follow him from his early days as a leading figure of both the West Coast and "cool" jazz movements, to his golden years as an elder statesman of American music. We'll also explore the strange genesis of "Take Five," which became the most unexpected of pop hits in 1959.

After the Crusades, Christianity came into possession of Greek and Roman philosophy and influenced by the Muslim and Jewish thinkers before them, some early Church Fathers took up the conversation on their own terms. Saints Anselm, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas offered different approaches to the Divine and the worldly based on different philosophical approaches. (See related classes #520, 558, 637)

Explore the groundbreaking music of Ray Charles and Willie Nelson—two iconic songwriters whose genre-crossing styles reshaped American music and transcended generations. We'll revisit their music and some of the stories behind it.

The ancient Maya cities of Copán and Tikal were thriving centers of culture, art, and ceremony between 300 and 800 CE. Their impressive pyramids, carved monuments, and rich artwork tell the stories of powerful rulers, religious traditions, and everyday life in these vibrant cities. In this class, we will journey through the history of Copán and Tikal, uncovering what glyphs and monuments reveal about the Maya world and the legacy they left behind.

The author’s own life inspired the fictional tale of Arnold Spirit, Jr., a fourteen-year-old living on the Spokane Indian Reservation and the choices he makes to navigate his adolescence under difficult circumstances. How did this 2007 novel wind up the most challenged book in the USA from 2010 to 2019? Please read the book so you can participate in our structured, facilitated, Zoom discussion.  (Note: Please join the meeting at 3 pm if you would like some assistance using the features of Zoom.  Otherwise, join us at 3:15 pm for the start of our discussion.) (See other book discussions: #515, 555, 591)

While much of Medieval philosophy is informed by the theological commitments of the thinkers of the day, there were rebel thinkers who sought new, interesting, and in some cases disturbing ways of making sense of being in the world. Giordano Bruno, Niccolo Machiavelli, and the Marquis de Sade proposed views that led to their vilification...but it doesn't mean they were wrong...in some cases hopefully they were. (See related classes #520, 558, 605)