Monthly Book Club in Carlisle: Where Real Conversation Happens
Not your average business book club. Join us.
Tired of surface-level networking? Want space to actually think, connect, and be human?
This is Carlisle's book club for people who are done pretending everything's fine. We read books that challenge how we think about life, work, and leadership - then gather for honest conversation over coffee and scones.
Running monthly since November 2024.
What changes in 2 hours?
People arrive carrying the weight of their week - tired, stressed, disconnected.
They leave lighter. More connected. With fresh perspective on the stuff that actually matters.
This isn't networking. It's not a performance. It's a small group of humans having the kind of conversation most of us are starving for:
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Real talk - No corporate bullshit, no forced positivity, no pretending
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Deep reflection - Books that challenge conventional thinking, conversations that go beneath the surface
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Genuine connection - A small group (we cap it) where you can actually be yourself
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Fresh perspective - Leave with new insight you can take back into your life and work
What members say
"Reading this book threw me back to the bat shit crazy decisions I've made in my life... It reminded me that wherever I have been and whatever I have done is a lesson in life. I can only make myself happy, nobody else is responsible for it."
"This was my introduction to manifestation which changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined. I suggested this book for book club because I knew it could help others and I was right as we now talk about manifestation in most meet ups!"
"In a world of work that values productivity over all else, this book feels rebellious. But if we remind ourselves that this time of rest and play is when we are at our most creative, unique and human then reading this book is time well spent."
The details.
When: Second Thursday of each month, 10am-12pm
Where: A cosy café in, or near, Carlisle
Investment: First session free, then £20/month (includes coffee and scones)
Group size: Small and capped - because real conversation needs intimacy, not crowds
What Actually Happens:
We gather around a table with coffee in hand. No PowerPoints. No icebreakers. No forced networking.
I'll offer some prompts and questions to spark discussion, but this isn't a lecture - it's a conversation. We talk about the book, what resonated, what challenged us, and how it connects to our real lives.
Do I need to read the book beforehand?
Ideally, yes - but if life gets in the way, come anyway. The conversation is valuable even if you haven't finished.
What if I can't make every session?
That's fine. Life happens. Just let me know if you'll miss one.
Is this really a "business" book club?
It's Reflective Rebels, so it's business but not corporate. We read books about life, leadership, growth, joy - the stuff that makes you better at work and better at being human.
Can I suggest books?
Absolutely. Every month, members can suggest titles and we vote on what's next.
One year of connection.
November 2025, our book club turned one.
Twelve months. Twelve books. Twelve gatherings where people showed up not to network or perform, but to actually connect.
Here's what we've discovered: when you create space for genuine conversation, people transform. Not in dramatic, Instagram-worthy ways - but in the quiet shifts that actually matter. More clarity. More courage. Less alone.
Books that changed us.
Daring Greatly - Brené Brown
"Its fundamental message is that vulnerability is a strength. Understanding how our boldness is deeply connected to our fear of shame has unlocked my courage." - Ben
The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
"Reading this book threw me back to the bat shit crazy decisions I've made... raising a child alone, moving to a third-world country, facing poverty, battling cancer during a global pandemic."
You Are A Badass - Jen Sincero
"This was my introduction to manifestation which changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined."
The Brain at Rest - Dr. Joseph Jebelli
"At a time when we all feel under pressure to do more, earn more and produce more, this book feels rebellious."
Where the River Flows - Rachel Havekost
"I struggled somewhat with this book... dealing with my own personal traumas was making this book too heavy for me. Looking back, I recognise that." - Theresa
Try your first meeting for free.
Simply book on to an upcoming Book Club meeting below to try it out for free.
Don't forget to give yourself at least two to three weeks to read the book!
Any questions please contact: ben@reflectiverebels.co.uk