Reading Community
Tracing the histories of ideas through literature, philosophy, architecture, rhetorics, and beyond.
For curious minds who love to discover the hidden influences in literature and philosophy, Book Oblivion offers infinite conversations for readers all over the world wanting to grow with a community of passionate readers. Browse our articles, join Book Oblivion community, and read like there’s no tomorrow.
Kenneth Burke on the Rhythm of Reading
In approaching rhetoric, Kenneth Burke teases out a theory of reading that incorporates rhythm and promotes a harmony of our experiences.
Kenneth Burke on Reading for Identification
Kenneth Burke considers every influence of a rhetorical act and develops a theory of identification that offers readers a new way to think about rhetoric.
Ralph Ellison and Kenneth Burke on Race, Writing, and Friendship
Ralph Ellison and Kenneth Burke were friends for more than 50 years and Bryan Crable chronicles the complex history of their friendship.
Reading as Meditation – A Creative Practice
Reading as meditation is the creative practice of attending to the text to evoke the image of thought that penetrates the reader.
Rudolf Otto on the Fearful and Fascinating Mystery of the Holy
In Idea of the Holy, philosopher and theologian, Rudolf Otto shows the numinous, the fearful and fascinating mystery of the holy, evokes deep worship.
Barn Burning on Intuition and the Banality of Evil
Barn Burning is written by Haruki Murkami is loosely based on William Faulkner’s story and explores themes of evil, intuition, metaphor, and memory.
The Best Books for Teaching and Learning
The best books for teaching and learning include insights on neuroscience, biology, philosophy, psychology, and communication theory.
Mircea Eliade and The Myth of the Eternal Return
In his 1949 book, The Myth of the Eternal Return, Mircea Eliade explores the role of repetition, imagination, and participation in creating history.
Big Data Danger and the Costs of Connection
Big data danger, according to Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias in The Costs of Connection, is not just about information but life – and what represents life.
Gaston Bachelard and Mircea Eliade on the Existential and Cognitive Functions of the Imagination
The phenomenology of Gaston Bachelard inspired the work of Mircea Eliade on the cognitive and existential functions of the imagination.
Kenneth Burke on Bad Readers
Kenneth Burke says bad readers stem from the spread of literacy through compulsory education and the culture’s inability to pay attention.
Rethinking the Winchester Mystery House
According to legend, the erratic architecture of the Winchester Mystery House was designed to confuse the spirits who haunted Sarah Winchester.
My Super-Nerdy Reading Strategy for Finishing Books
Finishing books is possible with a little strategic planning. Here is how I slay my book debt at the end of the year to reach my reading goals.
Kojin Karatani on the Will to Architecture
Kojin Karatani’s “will to architecture” surfaces in disciplines ranging from literature and psychoanalysis to anthropology and mathematics.
John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row Literary Tour
“Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.” John Steinbeck, Cannery Row
Read Along With Book Oblivion
Book Oblivion has an incredible community of avid readers passionate about literature and philosophy. Book Oblivion Members have access to live talks twice a month, an online community and discussion forum, supplemental materials like articles, books, and videos, and exclusive access to seasonal workshops.
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke
Live talks
We host one live talk a month or season for each reading group. Participants unable to attend are able to watch the recording after.
Community Forum
We connect in our community forum, posting articles, sharing thoughts, and staying engaged with the books and each other.
supplemental resources
Articles, videos, reading guides, podcasts and more, including specific reading strategies to aid comprehension.
Reading schedules
Read along with our community by sticking to the recommended pages for each book that are broken down by week, month, and season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book Oblivion is a global online community of readers who are passionate about literature and philosophy. We trace the way ideas connect to each other and over time through reading literature, philosophy, art, and rhetorics. Many of us are academics gone rogue. We are here to nerd out over books and ideas, ask questions, and grow intellectually.
Participants enroll from all over the world, including the United States, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Canada, Mexico, and more. Most participants are college graduates, but this is not a requirement. Several participants are retired, some are working professionals, others are graduate students, or some are stay at home parents. The only requirement is a humble, intellectual curiosity and a desire to connect with others over books.
Jessica launched Book Oblivion with a desire to rescue books from oblivion and return them to the center of culture and conversation. We work really hard to create space and time for these conversations to take place and are often one of the only intellectual outlets for our participants.
Conversations take place in English, but we have participants reading in languages from all over the world. Discussions on translation choices make things really interesting.
Jessica receives book lists from each instructor and arranges the readings for the year based on several factors. Each instructor leads discussions based on their passion, expertise, and familiarity with the author, book, or subject.
Our book selections focus on several themes:
- Critical Theory and Philosophy
- Himalayas of Literature
- In Search of Lost Time
- Reading Beyond Murakami
- Reading With Wonder
- The Craft of Writing
Participants join for $21/month to participate in all live talks and the community forum.
You can enroll by becoming a Book Oblivion Member and you can cancel at any time. To join our community, click HERE.
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Book Oblivion is a global online community passionate about reading literature and philosophy. Contact Us
