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Virtual Reading Group

Welcome to the Virtual Reading Group

Join us for a thoughtful and spirited exploration of the works of Hannah Arendt. Founder and Academic Director Roger Berkowitz personally leads the VRG each week and engages closely with members as he conducts in-depth readings of Arendt's books. We read one book or collection of essays over the course of a few months; sessions are held (almost) every Friday at 1pm Eastern Time. To prepare, we read selections ranging from 20 to 50 pages. The group progresses slowly to allow for close readings. Sessions are conducted via Zoom. See below for information on how to participate and what the group is currently reading. If you have any questions, please email Jana Mader, Director of Academic programs at [email protected].

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What We're Reading

What We're Reading

Our current book is The Life of the Mind, published three years after Arendt’s passing in 1978. In this work, she explores the nature of thinking, willing, and judging, examining how these mental faculties shape our understanding of justice, reason, and responsibility in the face of modern crises of meaning.

Find the new Critical Edition here. (We are also referring to the original Mary McCarthy edition, for those who wish to read that version.)

Our current reading schedule

Friday, April 11 
(Chapter 1. Appearance, continued)
Section 8: Science and Common Sense. Kant’s Distinction between Intellect and Reason, Truth and Meaning

Friday, April 18
(Chapter II. Mental Activities in a World of Appearances)
Section 9. Invisibility and Withdrawal
Section 10. The Intramural Warfare between Thought and Common Sense

Friday, April 25 
(Chapter II. Mental Activities in a World of Appearances, continued)
Section 11. Thinking and Doing: The Spectator
Section 12. Language and Metaphor

Friday, May 2 
(Chapter II. Mental Activities in a World of Appearances, continued)
Section 13. The Metaphor and the Ineffable

Friday, May 9
Chapter III: What Makes Us Think? Sections 14 and 15

Friday, May 16
Chapter III: What Makes Us Think? (continued) Sections 16 and 17

Friday, May 23: No session

Friday, May 30
Chapter III: What Makes Us Think? (continued) Sections 18 and 19

Friday, June 6
Chapter IV: Where Are We When We Think? Sections 20 and 21

Friday, June 13 No session

Friday, June 20
Part II: Willing – Introduction and Syllabus, Section 1, 2, and 3

Friday, June 27 No session

Friday, July 4 Independence Day – No session

Friday, July 11
Chapter I: The Philosophers and the Will (continued) Sections 4, 5, and 6

Friday, July 18
Chapter II: Quaestio mihi factus sum sections 7 and 8

Friday, July 25
Chapter II: Quaestio mihi factus sum sections 9 and 10

Summer Break: July 25- August 29 

Find the new critical edition here.

Participation is Free for HAC Members and Bard Students

If you're not a member yet, join the Hannah Arendt Center and click "yes" when asked if you'd like to participate. Once you're signed up, you'll receive emails with all the information you need to attend the upcoming VRG session. All sessions are recorded and made available to members on our Youtube channel.

Join Now >>

In the VRG but want more?

In the VRG but want more?

The Dialogue Project offers participants in the Virtual Reading Group an additional opportunity to engage with others studying Hannah Arendt.

The Hannah Arendt Center Dialogue Project gathers smaller groups of readers to further explore and discuss texts from the Virtual Reading Group. Participation in the VRG is free for HAC members. 

Learn More About the Dialogue Project

See the Virtual Reading Group in Action

From Summer 2019: The Life of the Mind

The Virtual Reading Group is a lively discussion based on a close reading of selected works by Hannah Arendt. Using a teleconferencing platform, Roger Berkowitz and Samantha Hill take turns leading groups of 30 to 60 members through selected chapters.

Watch More Sessions >>

What Participants Are Saying

"That Roger is willing and able to put forth the effort to expand this work beyond the boundary's of academia is fortunate for us and important in the world." —Harold Bush

"The ability to download the sessions afterwards is invaluable for me keeping up with the group. I cannot always participate in session because of the time difference." —Yana Canteloupe

"I applaud you to invite people from around the world to study Hannah Arendt's work with Roger. That we can all connect and participate, it's simply wonderful!" —Gertrud Lawrance

"I've been reading Hannah Arendt for the past few years and this is the first opportunity I've had to hear her work discussed - It was exhilarating!" —Rhea Pretsell

"I think just the fact that is exists is the best thing. It is an honor to sit with such engaged and informed people sharing an interest in Arendt. It was clear from our last meeting in December that HAC has given much thought about ways to continue and I'm happy to work along next year with those proposals." —Donna Weeks

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