Political Junkies Hitting the Books for March and April

Holliston DTC's Political Junkies Book Club has already taken on some challenging issues and thought provoking authors. Religion in politics with E.J. Dionne's "Souled Out" and the America's place in the Global Economy with Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum's "That Used To Be Us —we've had some interesting ideas to consider and some vigorous debate and discussion going on about where those ideas should lead. And we've had an enjoyable time in the process. With our next books selected it looks like we'll be headed for more of the same.

Our selection for March is Bill McKibben's "Eaarth" —a book with some promise to move beyond the sometimes seemingly fruitless debate about who is most to blame and on to the basic facts of climate change —even past the simple sounding of alarm —and on to the more pressing challenge of what now is to be done about it.

Here's how noted essayist Rebecca Solnit describes
Bill McKibben's "Eaarth":

"The terrifying premise with which this book begins is that we have, as in the old science fiction films and tales of half a century ago, landed on a harsh and unpredictable planet, all six billion of us. Climate change is already here, but Bill McKibben doesn’t stop with the bad news. He tours the best responses that are also already here, and these visions of a practical scientific solution are also sketches of a better, richer, more democratic civil society and everyday life. Eaarth is an astonishingly important book that will knock you down and pick you up."

Holliston DTC hosts these gathering, but all are welcome! Holliston's own Coffee Haven stocks "Political Junkie Book Club" books or you can purchase them on Amazon.com (use this link and a portion of the purchase goes to benefit Holliston Public Library).

Our March meeting will be held at the home of Maryanne Placentino at 125 Robert Road, Wednesday, March 28th at 7:00 pm. Please call Judy Gagnon, our book club committee chair, with questions at 508-429- 9852 or email judygagnon39@gmail.com.

For those looking ahead to April we will be reading
"Republic Lost, How Money Corrupts Congress —and a plan to Stop it" by Lawrence Lessing.

"With heartfelt urgency and a keen desire for righting wrongs, Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig takes a clear-eyed look at how we arrived at the current crisis... While America may be divided, Lessig vividly champions the idea that we can succeed if we accept that corruption is our common enemy and that we must find a way to fight against it. In REPUBLIC, LOST, he not only makes this need palpable and clear—he gives us the practical and intellectual tools to do something about it."

Come join us!