Salon Series
Reading Group: The Odyssey
Join us for a reading group of The Odyssey! Meeting once a month from December 2025-July 2026, we’ll keep the reading load manageable by breaking the epic ( Emily Wilson’s translation) into six sections (eight sessions total with an introduction and recap).
A poem written nearly 3,000 years ago, The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus’ long journey home following the Trojan War. More than simply a classic, The Odyssey is the foundation of Western storytelling and the archetype of the hero’s journey. Its themes of homecoming, identity, hospitality, and human intelligence remain as relevant as ever. Whether it’s your first time reading The Odyssey and you want to know what all the fuss is about or it’s your tenth reading and you want to go deep, this salon series is for you! Don't die without reading The Odyssey!
Expect vibrant 90-minute discussions on Zoom. Yearly memberships are recommended so you can access the dedicated Discord channel between episodes for further discussion.
We’ll meet on the second Thursday of each month from December 2025-June 2026 at 6pm PT / 7pm MT / 9pm ET.
We’ll use Emily Wilson’s translation available in print, ebook, or audio.
Useful links:
- Don't die without reading The Odyssey
- Odyssey - Wikipedia
- Pronunciation Guide
- A Translator’s Reckoning With the Women of the Odyssey
- Odysseus’ Scar
- Disguise and Recognition in the Odyssey: preface to the 2nd edition
- Discussion Series: The Homeric Odyssey and the Cultivation of Justice
- The Band of Heathens - Odysseus
- The Best Books on The Odyssey
About the host:
Grant Mulligan writes Progress Accumulation, a Substack that explores how nature and human progress can thrive together. He started his career as a wildlife biologist, breeding and releasing endangered species back to the wild, before a series of roles implementing and investing in environmental projects around the world. Most recently, Grant was a Roots of Progress Institute Fellow. He lives in Golden, CO with his wife and two kids. He loves birding, baseball, biking, and books!
Upcoming Episodes
| Date | Episode title |
|---|---|
| Thu, Jun 11 • 09:00 PM EDT | Session 7: The Homecoming - Vengeance and Reunion |
| Session 7: The Homecoming - Vengeance and Reunion | |
| Reading: Books 21-24 (65 pages) | |
| Description: Odysseus strings his bow, slays the suitors, and reunites with Penelope. Harmony is restored to Ithaca. | |
| Supplemental reading (not required) | |
| Thu, Jul 23 • 09:00 PM EDT | Session 8: Recap |
| Session 8: Recap | |
| Description: We’ll recap and discuss final takeaways from the story. | |
| Supplemental reading (not required): | |
| Watch Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (July 17, 2026 release). |
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Next episode
THU, JUN 11, 2026
09:00 PM EDT to 10:30 PM EDT
Online
$20.00