PhiloQuest Discussions | Books & Movies 2026
PhiloQuest Discussions: Books & Movies
PhiloQuest is a year-long journey through books and films exploring politics, technology, human nature, and meaning.
Monthly discussion group where we examine a book or film and explore the ideas within. An opportunity for thoughtful conversation in a small group setting.
The aim of this discussion group is to meet once a month to discuss a movie or book together. So really it's just an excuse to get together and chat over drinks.
These sessions not recorded.
When you sign up, you will be invited to join our Discord community where you will have access to upcoming events, discussions, and Google meet-ups.
We meet once a month to discuss a book and/or a movie (schedule and lineup below).
The virtual meetup is usually on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm CET (Madrid time).
The fees are $180/person.
About me:
Hi, my name is Mahmoud Rasmi. I am an independent writer, researcher, and marketer with over 10 years of experience. I am currently leading the marketing strategy at Xiva.
My latest book Philosophy for Business Leaders: Asking Questions, Navigating Uncertainty, and the Quest for Meaning explores the value of curiosity, questioning assumptions, and finding meaning in adversity.
I hold a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Salamanca, Spain.
Lineup & schedule:
Part 1: Human Nature & Political Foundations
- January: Common Sense, Thomas Paine
- February: The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History, Howard Bloom
Part 2: Solitude, Identity, and the Human Condition
- March: The Metaphysical Club : A Story of Ideas in America, Louis Menand
- April: The Labyrinth of Solitude and Other Writings, Octavio Paz
- May: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
- June: Movie (2021) Don’t Look Up, directed by Adam McKay
Part 3: Power Struggles
- July: Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap?, Graham Allison
- August: Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, Svetlana Alexievich
Part 4: Progress, Technology & AI
- September: How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation, and the Fate of Nations, Carl Benedikt Frey
- October: AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order, Kai-Fu Lee
Part 5: Existential Crises
- November: Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals, John Gray
- December: Movie (2025) Frankenstein directed by Guillermo del Toro and/or Novel: Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, Mary Shelley
Testimonials:
Access to the Discord channel & the discussion group.