Der humanistische Buchclub #5: Ursula K. Le Guin: „Freie Geister / Planet der Habenichtse“ (The Dispossessed, 1974)

In the organizer's words:

The Humanist Book Club #5: Ursula K. Le Guin: "Free Spirits / Planet of the Have-Nots" (The Dispossessed, 1974)
The fifth edition of our book club will take place on July 12 at 6 pm. We invite all those interested to join us for a discussion about Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" - published in German as "Freie Geister" or "Planet der Habenichtse".
It focuses on the physicist Shevek, who oscillates between two fundamentally different worlds: an anarchist-collectivist society without private property and a capitalist-organized civilization full of abundance - and full of inequality. Le Guin herself calls her novel an "ambiguous utopia": neither world is perfect, both raise uncomfortable questions. What does freedom really mean - and for whom? Is a society without possessions humanly possible, or does it create new constraints? And what does it cost to question a system from the inside?
The book is science fiction in the best sense of the word: not as an escape from reality, but as an invitation to think about it differently. Le Guin's core question is particularly appealing from a humanist perspective: How can a society be shaped that takes human dignity, solidarity and individual development seriously at the same time?
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was one of the most important authors of American science fiction and fantasy literature. Influenced by anthropology, Taoism and political philosophy, she consistently developed alternative models of society in her works - and always placed people at the center.

More information about the author (click)
Further links: Article on "The Dispossessed" on literaturkritik.de about the book and new translation by Karen Nölle (2017). (click)

The humanist book club
Right on trend and at the same time tried and tested over centuries: The Düsseldorf Enlightenment Service has launched its own book club! Whether fiction or non-fiction, we talk and discuss books we've read, share favorite quotes and pick apart theses. We meet every two months on Sundays at 6 pm in the rooms of DA!, Ackerstr. 23 / Hinterhof. (Drinks: bring your own). At the beginning, all participants can suggest a book to be discussed at the next meeting. We decide together and also announce the upcoming book title in the newsletter so that new interested parties can join in at any time. We will then focus on the book of the day.

Meeting point: DA! - Ackerstr. 23 / Backyard | 40233 Düsseldorf