World History Reading Groups

World History Reading Groups

Teachers in ORIAS World History Reading Groups read one book each month within a global studies theme. Participants meet monthly to eat and spend two hours in collegial conversation. It is a relaxing, intellectually rich atmosphere for both new and experienced teachers.

San Francisco book discussions are facilitated by Shane Carter, Outreach Coordinator for ORIAS and by Alan Karras, author and Associate Director of the Global Studies Program at University of California, Berkeley. East Bay discussions are facilitated by Shane Carter.

In-service teachers are eligible for book reimbursements or, in the case of regular attendees, may receive the books ahead of time from ORIAS. Meetings are open to all k-12 and community college faculty. Space is limited.

photo credit: Books of Knowledge Picton Library Liverpool via flickr (license)


San Francisco Group


Wednesday, November 15

Violent Borders: Refugees and the Right to Moveby Reece Jones

Wednesday, January 17

Silencing the Past by Michel-Rolph Trioullot

Wednesday, February 21

River Kings: A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads by Cat Jarman

Wednesday, March 20

Censored: Distraction and Diversion Inside China's Great Firewall by Margaret E. Roberts

Wednesday, April 17

The Picnic: A Dream of Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain by Matthew Longo

Wednesday, May 15

An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskervilleby Reza Aslan


East Bay Group


Friday, October 20, 2023

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro

Friday, November 17, 2023

Violent Borders: Refugees and the Right to Move by Reece Jones

Friday, January 19, 2024

Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck

Friday, February 23, 2024

Contraceptive Diplomacy: Reproductive Politics and Imperial Ambitions in the United States and Japan by Aiko Takeuchi-Demirci 

Friday, March 15, 2024

River Kings: A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads by Cat Jarman

Friday, April 19, 2024

To See Paris and Die: The Soviet Lives of Western Culture by Eleonory Gilburd

Friday, May 17, 2024

Book TBD

SF Meeting Location

Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School
400 Mansell St, San Francisco, CA 94134

East Bay Meeting Location

The East Bay reading group meets either entirely online or in hybrid format, according to the wishes of group members.

When you sign up, you'll receive a calendar invitation with all location information and the Zoom link.


All meetings: 5 PM to 7 PM