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Book Society Creating a special escape filled with books & wine in the heart of the East Bay.

A little heads up for tomorrow: on Thursday, October 22, we’ll be closing early at 5:30pm so we can set the table for so...
10/22/2026

A little heads up for tomorrow: on Thursday, October 22, we’ll be closing early at 5:30pm so we can set the table for something special.

We’re hosting Nik Sharma Nik Sharma | Food Science for a sold-out evening in partnership with Litquake celebrating his new book, Fundamentals of Flavor. He’ll be in conversation with Soleil Ho , and chatting about power of the four elements behind everything we cook. And, yes, there will be tasting. 🍽️

If you have a ticket, doors open at 6pm. If you don’t, come by earlier in the day for a glass and a browse before we flip the sign.

Regular hours return Friday, 12pm–10pm. Thank you for making room for the moments that make this place what it is. 📚🍷

Berkeleyside Chronicle Books

This past weekend, we closed our doors for a special private celebration: Ndidi Rickert 🌷 ‘s launch party for her new bo...
10/21/2026

This past weekend, we closed our doors for a special private celebration: Ndidi Rickert 🌷 ‘s launch party for her new book, SOAR: From Freetown to Freedom. ✨

It was such a joy to see the room filled with friends, family, and fellow readers cheering her on. Moments like this are exactly why we built Book Society: to be the container for the milestones that matter, where a story finally out in the world gets the celebration it deserves.

Congratulations, Ndidi, and thank you for letting us be part of your big day! 📚🥂

Come grab a copy of SOAR from the shelves for yourself. And if you have a launch, birthday, or gathering of your own in mind, send us a DM. We’d love to help you plan it!

This afternoon, Book Society went quiet for a really cool reason: we were hosting a filming of The Dan Buettner Podcast ...
10/17/2026

This afternoon, Book Society went quiet for a really cool reason: we were hosting a filming of The Dan Buettner Podcast 🎙️

Not only did we get to meet Dan (the guy behind the groundbreaking Blue Zones research), but we got to be a fly on the wall for four remarkable conversations with Thomas Goetz, Dean Ornish, Dawn Mussallem, and Michael Pollan, sharing big ideas about how we eat, heal, and live well. We’re still seeing stars 🤩

Thank you to Dan and the crew for choosing our little corner of College Ave, and to our guests for such generous, thoughtful conversation.

And yes, we have signed copies of their books on the shelves now. Come find one before they’re gone 📚

And to the producers out there: we make a pretty great backdrop. Let’s talk. 😉🎬

Doors will be back open for the evening shortly, and we’ll be here ‘til 10pm, so c’mon by and wrap up your week with us 🍷

The Dan Buettner Podcast Dan Buettner Dr. Dawn Mussallem Michael Pollan Dr. Dean Ornish

Last night the shop was packed with mystery lovers ready to talk murder. 🔍A Body in the Bookshop brought together three ...
10/16/2026

Last night the shop was packed with mystery lovers ready to talk murder. 🔍

A Body in the Bookshop brought together three Bay Area mystery writers with three very different flavors of crime: Gigi Pandian with her locked rooms (and a gargoyle or two), Carmela Dutra with food truck cozies and the quest for the perfect chicken wing, and M.M. Chouinard with thrillers that make you check the locks twice. We talked red herrings, fair-play puzzles, how one goes about researching a murder, and why this corner of California keeps turning up as the scene of the crime.

Thank you Gigi, Carmela, and Michele for such a fun, generous conversation (and for dressing the part so perfectly), and to everyone who came out with such good questions and theories. And Michelle, those homemade cookies were absolutely to die for. 🍪

Missed it? Signed copies are on our shelves now. Come pick your poison. 📚🔪

Author Carmela Dutra Michelle Chouinard Gigi Pandian

Few things make our day quite like an author wandering in to say hello. And when that author comes with a sweet neighbor...
10/15/2026

Few things make our day quite like an author wandering in to say hello. And when that author comes with a sweet neighborhood connection? Even better! 🥂

Ashley Cowan’s cozy new novel Not Another Christmas Movie is now on our Passion & Peril shelf. The local tie: Ashley’s sister owns ImagiKnit | Local Yarn Shop , our yarn-loving neighbors just down the way.

Cheers to Ashley on her new book, and to all the wonderful little community connections that keep happening around here. Come grab a copy, pour something nice, and maybe head a few doors down for a skein while you’re at it. 🧶📚

Ashley Cowan

A body in the bookshop, a late night Friday, and a private party Saturday. It’s a full week at Book Society! Here’s when...
10/13/2026

A body in the bookshop, a late night Friday, and a private party Saturday. It’s a full week at Book Society! Here’s when to find us 🔍

📚Wednesday, Oct 14: Open 12–5:30pm
We’re closing early to make room for a very special evening, A Body in the Bookshop. Three Bay Area mystery authors, Gigi Pandian, Carmela Dutra, and Michelle Chouinard, join us to talk locked rooms, red herrings, and why the Bay Area makes such a good crime scene. 6–8pm. 🎟 Tickets still available: tinyurl.com/BodyInTheBookshop

🍷Friday, Oct 16: Closed during the day, open 7:30–10pm
We're closed during the day, but come end your night with us.

📚Saturday, Oct 17: Open 12–5pm and 8:30–10pm
We’re hosting a private event in between, so stop by before or after!



Last night we had the pleasure of hosting Chief for a private social here at the shop. A room full of book-loving women ...
10/09/2026

Last night we had the pleasure of hosting Chief for a private social here at the shop. A room full of book-loving women leaders, w**e in hand — our favorite crowd! 🍷

This one was extra special for us. Our founder Laura is a former Chief member, so opening our doors to this community felt a like welcoming old friends home. Thank you, Chief, for choosing Book Society, and thanks to everyone who came and brought all the good energy!

Dreaming up a gathering of your own? Our space is available for private events, from team socials to book launches to dinner parties. DM us for details.

Last night’s conversation with Irena Smith and Elizabeth Rynecki brought big laughs, family stories, and a conversation ...
10/09/2026

Last night’s conversation with Irena Smith and Elizabeth Rynecki brought big laughs, family stories, and a conversation that wandered in all the best directions. 🚗

Irena’s book Troika turns a three-day drive down the Central Coast into a full-blown Odyssey (ostriches and an urgent oat milk search included), and Elizabeth got right to the heart of how she does it: what we remember versus what actually happened, and what it takes to write about family who are around to read it.

Thank you to Irena and Elizabeth for such a lovely and engaging conversation, and to everyone who came out, asked great questions, and stuck around to mix & mingle.

Last night the Leading Ladies Book Club gathered to talk about Still Life at Eighty by Abigail Thomas. Around the circle...
10/08/2026

Last night the Leading Ladies Book Club gathered to talk about Still Life at Eighty by Abigail Thomas. Around the circle were women of every generation, including one reader right around Abigail’s age, who brought a perspective and the kind of wisdom you simply won’t find in any discussion guide.📖

We dug deep into topics on aging, memory, love, and loss. There was laughter, there were tears, and there was the kind of honesty that only happens when a circle of readers really connects. It was truly a heartfelt night to remember.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and shared so generously. 🩷

Next up: Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy . The Leading Ladies will gather again on January 5th, and details will be on our website soon.

Last night, these lovely women pulled their chairs into a circle and started something together. 🍷It was the very first ...
10/06/2026

Last night, these lovely women pulled their chairs into a circle and started something together. 🍷

It was the very first meeting of our Women’s Leadership Circle — the first of six Monday evenings with a small group getting honest about where they are and what they want for the chapter ahead. We anchored this week with Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection and set our intentions for the weeks to come.

What’s said in the room stays in the room, but suffice to say, it was a beautiful evening. As with so many of our gatherings — from book clubs to journaling club to Sunday in the Stacks — seeing a group of near-strangers build connection so quickly never gets old. Thank you to these women for showing up so openly. Can’t wait to see what the next five weeks brings!

The Gifts of Imperfection is on our shelves if you’d like to begin where we began. And if you’re seeking your own seat in the circle, our next one is now scheduled to begin in January 2027. Learn more at www.booksociety.social/read-to-lead

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