We have received reports from authors of someone claiming to be “Dan B.” from Hartford Area Humanists who arranges a book discussion and then asks the author for a fee. The Humanist Association of Connecticut and Hartford Area Humanists never asks authors to pay to have their book discussed.
Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
Humanism and Its Aspirations
Upcoming Events
Book Discussion "Stone Yard Devotional" by Charlotte Wood
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2:30PM
Our book for July is Stone Yard Devotional: A Novel by Charlotte Wood.
From Amazon: Burnt out and in need of retreat, a middle-aged woman leaves Sydney to return to the place she grew up, taking refuge in a small religious community hidden away on the stark plains of rural Australia. She doesn’t believe in God, or know what prayer is, and finds herself living this strange, reclusive existence almost by accident.
But disquiet interrupts this secluded life with three visitations. First comes a terrible mouse plague, each day signaling a new battle against the rising infestation. Second is the return of the skeletal remains of a sister who disappeared decades before, presumed murdered. And finally, a troubling visitor plunges the narrator further back into her past.
Meditative, moving, and finely observed, Stone Yard Devotional is a seminal novel from a writer of rare power, exploring what it means to retreat from the world, the true nature of forgiveness, and the sustained effect of grief on the human soul.
“Stone Yard Devotional is about one woman’s inward journey to make sense of the world and her life when conflicts and chaos are abundant in both realms…A fierce and philosophical interrogation of history, memory, nature, and human existence.” – Booker Prize remarks
Monthly Meeting - Spirits of Empire
Monday, July 20, 2026, 6:30PM
Historian Tisa Wenger will talk to us about her new book, Spirits of Empire: How Settler Colonialism Made American Religion in…
Board Meeting
Sunday, July 26, 2026, 7:00PM
All members of the Humanist Association of Connecticut are welcome to attend. If you have something to bring to the board or wish …
Online event
Northern Social Dinner
Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 7:00PM
We’ll be meeting again in Wallingford at Pacific Buffet & Grill (https://pacificbuffetandgrill.com/). Come join us for…
Humanist Explorations
Saturday, August 1, 2026, 2:30PM
This is our monthly Humanist Explorations meeting. We meet at 700 Hartford Turnpike in Hamden for a presentation followed by a…
Book Discussions
"The Triumph of Seeds" by Thor Hanson
Saturday, August 15, 2026, 2:30PM
Our book for August is The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, & Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History by American conservation biologist and author Thor Hanson.
From Amazon: We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life: supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and pepper drove the Age of Discovery, coffee beans fueled the Enlightenment and cottonseed sparked the Industrial Revolution. Seeds are fundamental objects of beauty, evolutionary wonders, and simple fascinations. Yet, despite their importance, seeds are often seen as commonplace, their extraordinary natural and human histories overlooked…A fascinating scientific [and historic] adventure, [this book] is essential reading for anyone who loves to see a plant grow.
“A fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book…Hanson takes one of the least-impressive-looking natural objects and reveals a life of elegance and wonder.” – New York Times Book Review
"Against Empathy" by Paul Bloom
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 2:30PM
Our book for September is Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion by psychologist Paul Bloom.
From Amazon:
We often…
"The People, No" by Thomas Frank
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 2:30PM
Our book for October is The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism by American political analyst and historian Thomas…
You can download the New Haven Free Public Library’s flyer for the 2024 book discussions at the Wilson Branch.
Our Calendar
Be sure to sign up for our e-mail list to get advance notification of events.
You can RSVP for most HAC events via meetup.com.
Newsletter
Titles selected for our book discussions can be found in most local libraries or ordered from bookstores such as Barnes and Noble.
HAC is a chapter of the American Humanist Association and a UU Humanists local group.