Congress Book Club: Moby-Dick Edition

The “impenetrable book” club that is actually super fun.

In January of 2026, Congress Coffee launched a reading group of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. We read this sprawling 1079 page book over 13 weeks, and hosted weekly meetings to talk about it. What we learned was that getting together with others to talk deeply about books and reading feels really good! After we wrapped Infinte Jest, the group didn’t want to stop. So we chose Moby-Dick as our next book to read. Come join us! Everyone is welcome!

10 Weeks. One Big Book.

Join the crew of the Congress Book Club on a ten week discussion of the canonical and intimidating Moby-Dick.

How did a book that sold poorly on its publication in 1851, and which had gone out-of-print before its author’s death, come to be published in hundreds of different editions and be recognized as one of the greatest novels in the English language? Why has it continued to inspire not only writers, but visual artists and musicians? Most importantly, what does it have to say to us today? Let’s find out!

Whether you have never picked up the book before, have tried to read it but floundered (I’m looking at YOU, Chapter 32), or have completed this voyage before, this discussion group will be sure to deepen your understanding and, we hope, help forge a personal connection to this whale of a book.

Still on the fence? Check out https://www.mobydickbigread.com  If Tilda Swinton reading the first chapter doesn’t hook you, then we don’t know what will.