Events › Book Discussion

Please join us as we read The Pacific Circuit: A Globalized Account of the Battle for the Soul of an American City. by Alexis Madrigal.

Madrigal describes the book as "...both a sweeping history of one black woman’s Bay Area, and an examination of urban America in the early 21st century. Because the questions that power this book are not only at play in Oakland. Racialized capitalism drives the development of cities, and cities drive the creation of wealth for most Americans through the property they own in them. At the same time, globalization and automation have run a cargo ship through the former raison d'etre for cities: manufacturing things and housing the people who worked in the factories. What are cities becoming when the big money is made inside a screen or manufactured somewhere in Asia? What is a city, and this city, for? And what does Oakland owe to its residents, whether or not they own property?"

The group will discuss The Pacific Circuit over the course of 3 meetings :

February 23, 6:30-7:45

March 23, 6:30-7:45

April 27, 6:30-7:45

Registration is not required, but is encouraged so that we can estimate interest, as well as contact you via email with updates prior to the meeting.

This group is brought to you by the Fremont Main Library and Compassionate Fremont. We will continue to read and meet to discuss various books on the 4th Monday of every month from February through October 2026. You are not required to attend the entire year.

For information about how to get a copy of the book, please contact Jane via email: jcarr@aclibrary.org

We look forward to meeting you!