There just might be a Great Books discussion group in your neighborhood! These lively discussions often are readings cover fiction and non-fiction from (primarily) western literature over all time periods. What all readings have in common is (1) relevance to a particular great idea, (2) contemporary significance, and (3) re-readability. Many groups read from the Great Books Series published by the Great Books Foundation in Chicago . These collections contain complete short works or excerpts from larger works, typically 15-50 pages.  Some groups select works of their own choosing, or discuss longer readings over several meetings. Contact a friendly Pacific Northwest Great Books today to see if there is a group that works for you!