Book Swaps Sydney

Social and Book Swap: Gay Men of Letters Sydney

A book swap and social for the book group. Bring along your witty conversation and sparkling repartee and an optional book or two to swap.

Books and Bevvies

Welcome to **Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap and drinks social in the Sydney CBD. This is not a book club with homework. It’s a simple, low-key way to meet people, chat about what you’ve been reading, and walk out with something new. **HOW IT WORKS** Bring a book you’re happy to part with. Pop it on the swap table when you arrive. Mingle, chat, and swap recommendations. When the swap opens, take a book that catches your eye. Stay for a drink and a conversation after. **WHAT TO BRING** One book, any genre and any reading level. **GOOD TO KNOW** The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing, so if you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to “not going”. Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group. The venue is kindly not enforcing a minimum spend, but please support them by buying a drink, soft drink, or some lunch during the swap if you can. There is no mandatory entry fee, but voluntary contributions are **very much** appreciated. The group costs around **$65 a month to keep running**, so if you enjoy the swap and are in a position to chip in, even $5 or $10 makes a real difference. Please feel free to contribute with cash or via PayID at any stage through the swap. **WHERE WE’LL BE** We’ll be in the Market Street Garden Bar, with a table full of books and bevvies.

Social meet-up: Western Classics Book Club

A social meet-up for those who come along to the Western Classics Book Club. There is no set book to discuss. Just come along and chill. Meeting at 7.00pm. NB. We normally meet in the Long Room (the large room). Our socials normally get about 10 people, so we will meet in the 'Two Tables Room.' This is on the same level, but at the top of the stairs turn right, instead of left. Look out for the sign. Contact dalemills@cantab.net for any extra info.

October Book Club: "Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy"

Welcome to Meet the Moment Book Club, where we read books that meet the moment and make sense of it all together. Please see our [group page](https://www.meetup.com/meet-the-moment-book-club/) for a list of upcoming books. In discussing the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we spoke about who the real powers that be are that have molded Palestine and the Middle East into the quagmire it is today. Now we turn our eyes to the urgent now: who the powers that be are today that are consolidating power as never before. Silicon Valley and Big Tech are top of mind. Gil Durán's book "Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War On Democracy" has become an instant bestseller for good reason -- we see AI dominating and tech billionaires (now even trillionaires) amassing wealth and power in frightening proportions, even as they are not solving but exacerbating the crises we face today. It seems critical that we understand what they really have in mind and what we can do about it. Here is an ABC article about the book: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-02/the-nerd-reich-silicon-valley-fascism-war-on-democracy-abc-2026/107091034 \*\*\* "When Silicon Valley says it is ‘‘moving fast and breaking things,’’ the world interprets the chaos as a necessary cost of innovation. Gil Durán reveals something far more sinister: a decades-long campaign to replace elected governments with corporate rule. Drawing on insider political experience and new investigations, Durán traces this ideology from its philosophical roots in *The Sovereign Individual* by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg. He introduces its modern apostles—Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, and Elon Musk—and shows how the promise of technological liberation has transformed into a global movement for digital feudalism, powered by cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and the algorithmic propaganda of social media. *The Nerd Reich* explains the origins, strategies, and ambitions of Silicon Valley’s war on democracy for the first time. From San Francisco’s weaponized elections and secret billionaire projects to the White House, Durán exposes how the world’s richest men are building a new political order. *The Nerd Reich* is more than a hidden history, it’s an urgent warning: democracy is being dismantled not by coups or tanks, but by code, capital, and the illusion of innovation. Durán insists there is still time to fight back—if we act now." https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-nerd-reich-silicon-valley-fascism-and-the-war-on-democracy-gil-dur-n/a6f6f0dce1150339 \*\*\* We will be meeting at The Erko Hotel. If it's sunny, we'll be outside in the back; if rainy, we'll be at the big square raised table next to the bar. We will start and end on time. There's no fee, but please purchase your own food/drinks from the venue. \*\*\* If you have trouble getting the book, message me. On reading the book: I encourage people to read the book over just interviews or summaries, because nothing beats the slow digesting of the beauty and nuances in a book. Especially for the books in this book club that challenge our worldviews and help us see the world as it truly is, these books need to be really grappled with, to be fully engaged with, to receive the full benefits. For reference, I use book clubs to motivate me to finish the books I want to read, so the date of the book club becomes a deadline to finish the book by. I calculate the number of pages in a book and the number of days I can realistically read, and work out how many pages on average I need to read each day. That's how I've finished many books. Invariably, they're worth reading to the end. Of course, life happens and we're all busy. If you really can't finish a book or can only watch videos this time, that's okay. Come by with an attitude of listening, open to being inspired, and take in what others have to say; perhaps you'll want to read/finish the book afterwards. Just know that books are like most things in life: what you put in is what you get out of it. A podcast or ChatGPT can give you the high-level points, sure, perhaps to BS your way to a decent grade in class; but we're not in school anymore, and we read these books because they better our lives and help us see more clearly. But they can only do so if we read them, because reading is what makes all the new concepts come to life enough to maybe change us. For the full magic, you just gotta read. Alright, thanks for reading my ode to reading. \*\*\* If the RSVP list is full, please join the waitlist as there will likely be fluctuations closer to the date. If you RSVP'ed and can't make it, please edit your RSVP so that others can attend. No-shows will be noted and barred from the book club. Look forward to seeing you there!

Secret History of the Mongols (1252) trans. Christopher P. Atwood

The fourth in our **Journey to the East** reading series exploring texts from the Middle East, India, China and Japan. *Join the Really Old Books Whatsapp to see the full schedule - the Meetup site only allows me to advertise one event at a time. Message me to get the WhatsApp link as we've been getting too much spam recently.* \-\-\- *The origin of Chinggis Khan: there was Grey Wolf born with a destiny from Heaven above. His wife was Fallow Doe. They came crossing the sea.* The oldest surviving text in a Mongolic language, this book recounts the life of the man we'd know as Genghis Khan, a culture hero of Mongolia with the slightly dubious reputation for being responsible for killing 11% of the world's population in his lifetime, and for having created one of the largest empires in history. I'm really excited about this book - though the text itself is about 150 pages, Atwood's translation includes a hundred-page introduction and is loaded with footnotes and appendices. This is one for the history freaks! Scholarship aside, this book promises to be a lively and entertaining account of the world of horses, archery, horse archery, yurts and the endless steppe. Please request to join the WhatsApp ground for a digital copy - the translation is a Penguin Classic. As always, suggestions for future books go there too.

Book discussion: 1984 by George Orwell

In October we'll be reading George Orwell's 1984, one of the defining novels of the twentieth century and a work that has shaped the way we think about power, surveillance and freedom. The novel follows Winston Smith, a low-ranking bureaucrat living in a society where the government watches its citizens constantly, rewrites history and demands absolute loyalty. As Winston begins to question the world around him, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous search for truth, love and personal freedom. Often described as both a gripping dystopian novel and a timeless political classic, 1984 continues to provoke debate about authority, language, truth and the individual's place within society. Whether you're reading it for the first time or returning to it after many years, it promises to make for a lively discussion.

Queer Reads

Reading list for 2026: * Feb: Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend by Dan Jones * Mar: Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin * Apr: Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard * May: In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado * Jun: Just by Looking at Him by Ryan O'Connell * Jul: Pageboy by Elliot Page * Aug: Milk Fed by Melissa Broder * Sep: Jack Charles: Born-again Blakfella by Jack Charles * Oct: We Are Never Meeting In Real Life by Samantha Irby * Nov: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar * Dec: Carol by Patricia Highsmith

Queer Cinema: Vale Tim Curry

October's film cannot be named due to copyright restrictions however here is a description of the film to give you a clue. I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey. Brad and Janet have just got engaged and are on their way to share the good news with their old teacher Dr. Scott, when they break down near an old house. Owned by a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania, Dr Frank-N-Furter, who has been making a man with blond hair and a tan. Get ready to do the time warp again and celebrate the incredible life of Tim Curry in arguably his most iconic role. There will be call and response with props so expect noise and mess! Don't dream it, be it Run time: 1h 40m M CC *You need to be a library member to attend this event, if you haven't joined yet, we value your membership and would love you to join. Discover everything the library has to offer including free e-books, audiobooks, e-magazines, movie streaming and so much more. Access our e-library 24/7. Join our library [here](https://library.waverley.nsw.gov.au/libero/WebOpac.cls?VERSION=2&ACTION=SIGNUPAGREE&RSN=&DATA=DWL&TOKEN=75KA1hXWhx6590&Z=1&NewBreadCrumb=1)*

Dracula by Bram Stoker | Sat 10 Oct 2026

Halloween Drag Trivia hosted by Zephyr

Come to a night of fun, fangs and frivolity as we test your knowledge on all things horror and Halloween. 🎃 Get ready for an ooky spooky trivia night hosted by the masc, myth, legend - [Zephyr](https://www.instagram.com/zephyr.thedragking/)! 🦇We will test you on all things Halloween. Creepy true crime, scary movies, fearsome folklore and everything in between. 🧛Sink your fangs into sweet tricks and treats provided by us. 👹You are welcome to come as a group or on your own. This event is suitable for ghouls, ghosts and goblins 15 years and older. 👻Prizes for best dressed, and the winning team, so get those creative juices flowing. This fun and interactive night will have you screaming for more! 😱

Cultural Exchange Night for International Friends @The Art Syndicate Surry Hills

Join us at the Art Syndicate for a fun and engaging Cultural Exchange Night where international and exchange students, expats, and community members come together to celebrate diversity and forge new friendships. This event is perfect for anyone looking to connect with people from different parts of the world and learn about various cultures. The venue offers an all-NSW drinks menu with wines, beers, spirits, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks in a cozy and relaxing setting. As we are a small venue: RSVP's ESSENTIAL! We are looking forward to seeing you! Your hosts, the friendly staff at the Art Syndicate

Social meeting of The Politically Incorrect Book Club

This is a social for members of The Politically Incorrect Book Club. There is no set book to discuss. Just turn up ready to chat! 7:00pm till whenever.