We get together every month to discuss a book from Left Book Club – first founded in 1936 to oppose war, inequality and fascism. It’s an informal group and everyone is welcome, so pop down and chat about some timely political topics.
Please see below key information for the next Left Book Club York meeting:
- SPARK:York, Piccadilly
- Next session: 21st January 2025
- Time: from 7:30pm
- Selected Book: ’24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep’ by Jonathan Crary
’24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep’ explores some of the ruinous consequences of the expanding non-stop processes of twenty-first-century capitalism. The marketplace now operates through every hour of the clock, pushing us into constant activity and eroding forms of community and political expression, damaging the fabric of everyday life.
Jonathan Crary examines how this interminable non-time blurs any separation between an intensified, ubiquitous consumerism and emerging strategies of control and surveillance. He describes the ongoing management of individual attentiveness and the impairment of perception within the compulsory routines of contemporary technological culture.
At the same time, he shows that human sleep, as a restorative withdrawal that is intrinsically incompatible with 24/7 capitalism, points to other more formidable and collective refusals of world-destroying patterns of growth and accumulation.
About the Author: Jonathan Crary
Jonathan Crary is a prominent American art critic, theorist, and Columbia University professor known for his critical analysis of modern and contemporary art, perception, and technology, particularly how capitalism shapes our senses and attention.
Left Book Club York FAQ’s
How much does it cost?
Left Book Club: York is free to attend.
Books can be purchased separately from the Left Book Club website.
Do I have to read the whole book?
Whilst you may find the reading group more enjoyable if you have read the book, it isn’t essential. You can come along to listen and learn about the book or discuss the broader ideas within the book.
Can I suggest a book?
Yes! We would love to hear your suggestions. It is worth keeping in mind though that this reading group is in collaboration with Left Book Club so it does need to be a book within their catalogue. Fortunately that gives you lots of awesome books to choose from.
At the end of each group, we discuss books for the following meet up and usually agree one then. The book selection will be added to the event listing on the Left Book Club York Website, which can be found through SPARK:York.
Left Book Club is supported by SPARK:York
