313 books
—
286 voters
Alec Swartz
https://www.goodreads.com/aswartz
“We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane.”
― Breakfast of Champions
― Breakfast of Champions
“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”
― Letters to a Young Contrarian
― Letters to a Young Contrarian
The History Book Club
— 25842 members
— last activity Jan 19, 2026 04:48AM
"Interested in history - then you have found the right group". The History Book Club is the largest history and nonfiction group on Goodread ...more
Reading the Classics
— 4048 members
— last activity May 10, 2025 07:28AM
This is a group for people who want to read the classics and discuss them as a group. Each month we will choose as a group a book to read. Everyone is ...more
Political Philosophy and Ethics
— 6232 members
— last activity 3 hours, 21 min ago
Study and discussion of the important questions of ethical and political philosophy from Confucius and Socrates to the present. Rules (see also the ...more
Classical (Laissez-Faire) Liberalism
— 810 members
— last activity Aug 24, 2025 10:15AM
Including within it neo-liberalism, libertarianism, objectivism, anarcho-capitalism, minarchism, and American conservatism, this classical or "market" ...more
Dostoyevsky's Lair: Russian Literature
— 436 members
— last activity Apr 01, 2023 02:23PM
This group explores Russian literature with an emphasis on 19th/20th century authors.
Alec’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Alec’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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