SPARK DISCUSSION

Help us grow Barrington Indivisible

Join us to discuss the book Abundance and its ideas on July 29, 7-8:30 pm at the Barrington Area Library. Ezra Klein (and co-author Derek Thompson) argue that we need to plan for a positive future by focusing on producing what is most important. They say, “We have a startling abundance of the goods that fill a house and a shortage or what’s needed to build a good life.” They succinctly present the interesting backgrounds for some of our most urgent problems today (housing, climate change, healthcare, transportation, etc.), and call for a correction to our current path, noting that populism feeds on socio economic discontent. Read the book’s interesting ideas, and let’s discuss what everyone thinks about them.

The Barrington area library has lots of copies. The call number is 330.973 KLE. New and used editions are also available at the usual sales outlets.

The Barrington Area Library provides Meeting Room space as a community service. The Barrington Area Library neither sponsors nor endorses this event nor the presenting individuals or organizations.

PAST SPARK TOPICS

.October 2025 - The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement.

This month's discussion centered around the ideas presented in Sharon McMahon's book, The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement.

This work considers and celebrates what it takes to be an agent of change. History is not only made by the heroes we know. The course of our country’s history is often changed by unknown but courageous, persistent, and diverse citizens who have the courage and drive to go beyond and achieve a just end.

September 2025 - Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism.

We discussed the ideas in Anne Applebaum’s Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism.

Applebaum analyzes the reasons for the drive toward authoritarianism, on a global, national and personal level. She talks about the model of the new right’s illiberal one-party state, which was originally, and ironically, developed by Lenin. This model for holding power can accommodate all types of ideologies, and doesn’t require large scale violence. It does need its followers to accept an alternative reality, while an impartial political system is destroyed

November 2025 - Which country does the most good for the world?

We discussed the concept of the “Good Country.” Simon Anholt suggests that we should focus on countries doing good globally: how they can and should positively impact others beyond their own borders.

Anholt says that the benefits and negatives of globalization seem to have taken us by surprise. However, we need to collaborate on worldwide problem-solving, despite our antiquated organization into nation-states whose governments look inward.

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