Study/Discussion Groups.

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How Study/Discussion Groups Work

The Omnilore curriculum is based on the concept of peer-led Study/Discussion Groups. A discussion group is similar to an academic class, with some important differences intended to facilitate informal yet intellectually challenging discussion.

There are no instructors; instead, the group is led entirely by the members. There are no exams or grades; instead, members bring their own motivation to explore new ideas with their peers.

Study/Discussion Groups run for a term of four months and meet twice monthly for two hours during the day. Sessions take place either in person at our facility at the Beach Cities Health District in Redondo Beach or online by Zoom. There are three terms each year, starting in January, May and September.

Approximately fifteen discussion groups are offered each term, most of which center on a shared reading—typically a book purchased in advance, though films, video series or periodicals are sometimes used. Offerings are chosen to span a broad range of interests including the arts, government and geopolitics, history, literature, philosophy and religion, science and technology, and social sciences.

An experienced Omnilore member volunteers to coordinate each group. In addition to helping the group schedule the reading, discussions and presentations, the coordinator helps the sessions run smoothly, ensures everyone has a chance to contribute and provides guidance and support as needed to new members.

Members Lead the
Study/Discussion Groups

Each member leads a group discussion on a specific chapter or section of the common reading during one session. To stimulate discussion, the member typically prepares and distributes open ended questions in advance.

In addition, each member delivers a researched presentation on a relevant topic of their choice. To ensure everyone has a turn, the time allocated for leading a discussion or making a presentation will depend on the size of the group, but usually ranges from half an hour to a full hour.

A skit instead of a presentation!

In the California Wine S/DG, instead of a traditional presentation, Susan teamed up with new member Irene to perform a skit in which bottles of red and white wine debate which is better.

Presentations Are Central to the Omnilore Concept

Researched presentations represent an opportunity for members to bring their personal experiences and interests into the group discussions. They are often the most engaging sessions of our groups, frequently evolving into animated conversations with every member chiming in. Experience shows that the greatest challenge is simply preventing these presentations from overrunning their allotted time!

Presenters can use any format or medium they like. PowerPoint is easy to learn and fun to use, but hand drawn notes with an overhead projector work just as well. Some adventurous presenters have instead led demonstrations, engaged the class in hands-on activities, or even performed skits. There is plenty of opportunity for creativity.

We recognize that new members are sometimes apprehensive about giving a presentation. We encourage them to schedule theirs late in the term to allow time to observe others and become more comfortable speaking in front of the group. The coordinator and fellow members are always happy to offer advice and support.

How We Choose Discussion Group Topics

A new curriculum is developed for each term. As the current term draws to a close, members are invited to suggest topics for the upcoming sessions. A volunteer committee reviews these suggestions to identify approximately twenty-five topics that offer broad appeal while spanning a diverse range of subjects.

Members then submit ranked-choice votes for their preferred topics, and those receiving the highest level of interest are selected for the new curriculum.

“Study/Discussion Groups have been a constant source of fulfillment, allowing me to satisfy my curiosity on a wide range of interests and to interact with our members both intellectually and, just as importantly, as friends.”

— Bill, Member for 23 years
“Omnilore is a cornerstone of retirement for me… What I like best are the academics and interactions with people who have interesting things to say. The group is constantly evolving!”

— Adrian, Retired lawyer, bicyclist, world traveler

Current Offerings - Starting in May

AI Short Stories: Visions of 2041

In ten gripping short stories and accompanying commentary this book introduces readers to an array of eye-opening settings and characters grappling with the new abundance and potential harms of AI technologies. It encourages us to envision a future where AI does more than assist us—it influences our values, reshapes our ethics, and challenges our understanding of humanity.
Best American Science and Nature writing 2025

This popular discussion group is repeated most years. This volume has 20 articles which are from The New Yorker, Atlantic, Outside, Smithsonian, and other magazines. They vary in topics as diverse as The Worm Charmers to Maui on fire, to what it’s like to camp in one of the hottest places on earth.
Breakneck: China’s quest to engineer the future

A sharp, thought-provoking book that reframes how we understand China’s rise—not as a simple clash of communism vs. capitalism, but as the story of an “engineering state” grappling with both its triumphs and its pathologies. It’s a work that blends policy analysis, cultural insight, and personal reflection into a compelling narrative.
A history of the world in 47 borders

Filled with fascinating narratives about our ever-abiding pre-occupation with drawing lines and upholding ideas of nationhood, this book shows how political identities are shaped and why the world looks the way it does. From the Roman attempts to define the boundaries of civilization, to the secret British-French agreement to carve up the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, to the reason why landlocked Bolivia still maintains a navy.
Current Events

For each session, the presenters will select a timely topics in government, international affairs, health, economics, science and beyond. A short presentation will summarize the chosen article, put the topic of the article in context of the broader story behind it and explain what issues or concerns led the presenter to choose it. The presentation will be followed by a class discussion. This class is an opportunity to share our perspectives and connect with others in a safe and respectful space.
Great Food from European Cities: Inspiring Stories and Recipes from European Green Capital and Green Leaf Cities

Each presenter will prepare and serve a dish from one of these cities and make a presentation on whatever aspects of that city the presenter chooses: history, culture, why it won the green city competition.
At Home: a history of private life

Bryson uses his house and the everyday items within it to examine how they transformed the way people lived, and how houses evolved around these new commodities. In the process, he unearths 10,000 years of fascinating historical information and extraordinary stories about what is behind, within and covering the walls of the common home.
When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows

Pinker explains how we think about each other’s thoughts about each other’s thoughts, ad infinitum. He calls this awareness “common knowledge,” and shows its momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives. Specifically, he explains how the hidden logic of common knowledge can make sense of many of life’s enigmas
New Wave, New Hollywood: Reassessment, Recovery, and Legacy

Discover how a new generation of filmmakers in the late 1960s and 1970s transformed Hollywood by challenging the old studio system and embracing creative freedom. Examine the shift toward more realistic, character-driven stories and the rise of independent filmmaking.
The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2025

Tales of suspense, detection, and puzzlement that illuminate the diversity of styles contained under the “mystery” umbrella.
The Blue Machine: How the Ocean Works

All of Earth’s oceans, from the equator to the poles, are a single engine powered by sunlight, driving huge flows of energy, water, life, and raw materials. In The Blue Machine, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski illustrates the mechanisms behind this defining feature of our planet.
Inventing Paradise: The Power Brokers Who Created the Dream of Los Angeles

Filled with fascinating narratives about our ever-abiding pre-occupation with drawing lines and upholding ideas of nationhood, this book shows how political identities are shaped and why the world looks the way it does. From the Roman attempts to define the boundaries of civilization, to the secret British-French agreement to carve up the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, to the reason why landlocked Bolivia still maintains a navy.