Navigate Deserted Streets and Gaze Into Lifeless Homes
Ray Bradbury’s 'The Pedestrian' and the July Giveaway
Join us this up-coming Monday (July 28th - 4 pm PT/ 7 pm ET) for the Tsundoku Reading Society as we step quietly into Ray Bradbury’s haunting short story, The Pedestrian.
Within the crystalline air of a misty November evening, we will walk alongside Leonard Mead, who navigates deserted streets, gazing into the lifeless homes of occupants mesmerized by glowing screens. These are his neighbors, simple people unaware that they are captives in their own city.
This extremely brief—yet profound—tale invites us to explore our own societal inclinations toward isolation, conformity, and technological dependency. Like George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm, Bradbury’s story serves as a compelling critique, insisting that we cultivate our moral imaginations and discern the subtle line that separates utopia from dystopia.
I expect our journey will provide more than an evening of escapism; it promises catharsis and illumination as we ponder what it means to see, to live, to be free. Hopefully, we’ll discover some genuine insights into the meaning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as we challenge prevailing assumptions about progress and human connection, and explore what it means to be human in a world of increasing distraction.
Bring your questions, your intellectual humility, and, as always, your favorite beverage and snacks. The silence awaits our footsteps…
Monday, July 28th @ 4 pm PT /7 pm ET
The Tsundoku Reading Society is a community of thoughtful readers who gather online monthly to discuss the best of what has been thought and written because we thoroughly enjoy the crisp, clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our stifled modern minds. You don’t have to be a scholar to join the conversation. You just need a good internet connection, webcam, and mic paired with a spirit of wonder and a longing for that which is true, good, and beautiful.
If you’d like to join the Tsundoku Reading Society, simply become a paid subscriber at $7 per month or $60 per year. You’re then immediately eligible to attend the monthly discussions of the Tsundoku Reading Society, access the growing resource page (which includes recordings of the previous month’s discussion, listen to the BOOKS AND LETTERS podcast, and get print books free or steeply discounted when they become available.
Steps to Follow
Download the short story; read it; mark it up; ask questions of the text. Then, watch your inbox for login instructions to join the Zoom meeting on Monday, July 28th at 4:00 pm PT (7:00 pm ET). It’s that simple.
Got questions? email me@scottpostma.net.
July Giveaway
The July giveaway is two modern dystopian classics in one volume: Animal Farm & 1984 by George Orwell. Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm are searing political fables about truth, power, and rebellion. In 1984, Winston Smith rewrites history for Big Brother—until he dares to remember and resist. In Animal Farm, a revolt against tyranny gives way to a new, more insidious oppression. Orwell’s prophetic voice still resonates with us today.
To enter the drawing, simply become a paid subscriber at $7 per month or $60 per year. You’re not only eligible for the drawing but immediately made a member of the Tsundoku Reading Society. Plus, you gain access to the growing resource page (which includes recordings of the previous month’s book discussions, the BOOKS AND LETTERS podcast, and you get any of my print books steeply discounted (and in some cases free) whenever they become available.
Become a paid subscriber today!