Brussels Non-Fiction Meetup: The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Book Club Invitation: The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

For our November meeting, we’ll be discussing The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

How do the stories we tell shape our understanding of history, identity, power and injustice? And what happens when those stories conflict with reality?

In The Message, Coates takes us on three journeys, to Senegal, South Carolina and Palestine, exploring how narratives influence the way we see ourselves, others and the world around us.

Through personal experiences, historical reflection and political observation, he raises questions about whose stories are heard, whose are overlooked, and how we distinguish truth from deeply held beliefs.

But our discussion won’t simply be about accepting or rejecting Coates’s arguments. We’ll use the book as a starting point for broader questions about history, journalism, moral responsibility and the power of storytelling.

📅 Date: Saturday, 28 November 2026
⏰ Time: You’re welcome from 11 am onwards; discussion starts at 11.30 am
📍 Venue: Carpe Diem, Avenue de Tervuren 13, 1040 Brussels

Expect an open and engaging discussion in a relaxed setting, followed, if you like, by lunch together.

As always, you’re very welcome whether you’ve finished the book, read only part of it, or simply want to join the conversation.

🏡 Book Club Home Rules

1️⃣ You’re welcome even if you didn’t finish the book.
2️⃣ We listen to understand, not to win.
3️⃣ Curiosity, respect, and openness come first.

Looking forward to another lively exchange of ideas!

💬 Questions? Please send me a message through Meetup.