Exploring the Past: A History Book Club

The History Book Club will read and discuss history books in a friendly, casual, and inquisitive setting. Selected titles will cover topics such as the city of Philadelphia, the East India Company, ideas from antiquity, and Africa's role in shaping the modern world. No prior knowledge or expertise is expected—just a curiosity about other times and places. Students should take this course if they’re interested in why the world works the way it does today. While not a comprehensive or exhaustive study of history, the course is meant to open our imaginations to past events—both as fascinating stories in their own right and as ways to better understand our present and future. We welcome all students, whether you’re well-versed in history or simply curious about why it’s worth reading.

In September, we begin close to home with Philadelphia: A Narrative History by Paul Kahan, an engaging look at the city’s pivotal role in American history. In October, we shift focus to The Anarchy by William Dalrymple, a gripping account of the rise of the East India Company and its impact on South Asia. November brings The Map of Knowledge by Violet Moller, which traces the transmission of ancient ideas through Islamic and European worlds. We close the year in December with Born in Blackness by Howard W. French, a powerful reexamination of Africa’s central role in the making of the modern world. Students can find these books at the Free Library of Philadelphia, or local bookshop.