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 us at [email protected].
What We're Reading Next
Beginning Friday, September 4th, we'll begin reading The Human Condition, one of Hannah Arendt's most influential works. First published in 1958, the book asks timeless questions about what it means to live, work, and act together in the modern world. Arendt explores how advances in technology and human knowledge can expand our power while also making it harder to understand—or control—the consequences of our actions. Those questions remain just as urgent today.
EDITION INFORMATION:
All editions that follow the pagination of the original University of Chicago edition. Only one of the new editions does not.
OUR UPCOMING READING SCHEDULE
The Virtual Reading Group meets weekly on Zoom from 1-2:30pm EST. The Human Condition will take us from September 4 through December 11, 2026, with a week off here and there for holidays and The Arendt Forum. Please see the attached file for a downloadable and printable reading schedule. Check back for any updates. As always, please email us if you have any questions!
FAQs about the VRG
- We send out a reminder email every Monday with the VRG Zoom link. Please be sure to check your Spam or Promotions folders and make sure The Hannah Arendt Center is an allowed sender.
- The Zoom link for the current book is the same every week. We will change the Zoom link with each new book we read, so please be sure your membership is up-to-date to ensure there are no interruptions in your participation.
- We open the Zoom meeting at 1:00 pm EST/EDT. You will be in a waiting room until then.
- Please watch for time changes in the US in the spring and fall, which are different from those in other countries.
- Don't worry if you miss a Zoom meeting: we post all of our VRG session recordings on our YouTube channel the following week.
- We also post edited versions of the VRG session on our podcast, Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz, which is available on all major podcast platforms.
- The purpose of the group is to better understand Arendt’s work
- Participants attend in the spirit of inquiry, respect and goodwill
- Questions and comments should be succinct
- Please mute your mic unless speaking, to minimize background noise, feedback, or disruptions to the flow of the conversation
- Please be considerate of others' opinions and perspectives
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.
In the VRG but want more?
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.
See the Virtual Reading Group in Action
The Virtual Reading Group is a lively discussion based on a close reading of selected works by Hannah Arendt. Using Zoom, Roger Berkowitz and Jana Mader, lead groups of 60 to 100 members through selected chapters.
What Participants Are Saying
"I originally became a member during the pandemic because a New York Times article recommended the VRG. I have barely missed a Friday since. Now have a shelf of Arendt books that we have read together and which have helped me understand the historic events Arendt observed 90 years ago and their eerie resonance with the historic moment we find ourselves in now. Thank you, Roger, and the group!" - a senior citizen member
"Learning from HAC keeps me sane and hopeful both for my country (the Philippines) and the entire world." - Anamarie Avecilla, Makati City, Phillippines
"I value the Bard community, exchange of thoughts and ideas, the shared values, the reading group. The sense of friendship. Plus, we have to join forces to protect our democracy." - Barbara Bechtolsheim, Hamden, CT