Books worth opening. Ideas worth wrestling with.
I’ve spent a good portion of my life reading, writing, researching, and following questions that don’t always have easy answers. A book can take you somewhere you didn’t expect to go. You might pick it up because the subject interests you, only to find yourself three hours later researching something mentioned in a single paragraph. I’ve lost count of how many times that’s happened to me, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
That’s part of what inspired the Epitaph Ink Book Club.
I wanted a place to share books I’ve enjoyed, books I’ve found worthwhile, and books I think deserve a little more attention. Not everything needs to be a bestseller to be worth reading, and not every worthwhile book is going to appeal to everyone. My interests are fairly broad, so I expect the reading list to reflect that. History, nonfiction, feminism, social criticism, literature, culture, biographies, and plenty of other subjects will find their way into the mix.
I’m not interested in restricting the Book Club to one particular subject or perspective. There’s too much to explore, too much history to uncover, and too many interesting people writing about things worth knowing. I also don’t intend to recommend books simply because they’re popular or because someone else says they’re important. I have to enjoy what I’m reading and find something worth passing along. If I wouldn’t recommend a book to a friend, I’m probably not going to recommend it here.
Each month, I’ll introduce one featured book through a free article and review on Epitaph Ink. I’ll share information about the author and publication, discuss the subject matter, and talk about what stood out to me as a reader. Sometimes a book will introduce an unfamiliar subject, sometimes it’ll challenge something I thought I knew, and sometimes it’ll send me into a research rabbit hole that finds its way into my own writing. I want room for all of that.
These aren’t intended to be formal academic book reviews. I’m not going to dissect every chapter or manufacture criticism to make a recommendation look more balanced. I’ll be honest about my reading experience, including the ideas I found interesting and the questions a book left me with. That doesn’t mean every author gets a free pass or that I’ll agree with every conclusion. It simply means I’m sharing work I believe is worth reading, not handing down a verdict.
For readers who want to go a little further, there’s also the Epitaph Ink Book Companion.
The companion is a downloadable PDF available to paid subscribers, and it’s something I’ve put considerable thought into developing. I don’t want to hand readers a generic collection of worksheets that could accompany just about any book. Each companion will be built around its particular selection, because a historical work, a collection of essays, a philosophical text, and a book about contemporary social issues don’t necessarily need the same approach.
Depending on the book, the companion may include a guided breakdown of its structure and major themes, additional historical context, research notes, and further reading from scholarly publications, university resources, primary sources, archives, and other reputable materials. I’ll also include questions for reflection and discussion, a book-specific activity, and space for readers to keep their own notes. Where a subject involves competing historical interpretations or ongoing scholarly debates, I’ll make room for those distinctions rather than present every claim as settled fact.
I want these to be useful resources, not decorative extras tucked into a subscription. Something you can download, print, write in, and return to. If a book introduces you to a subject you’ve never explored, the companion should give you somewhere to begin. If you’re already familiar with the subject, perhaps it’ll give you another perspective or a few more questions to investigate.
There’s also a reason I want to include discussion questions and activities. You don’t have to belong to an organized reading group to enjoy a book club. You can read independently, invite a few friends to read along, or use the companion to hold your own Epitaph Ink Book Club discussions. The materials are designed to be used at your own pace, without scheduled meetings or a weekly reading commitment. I’d rather give readers the freedom to make something of the experience than turn reading into another obligation on their calendars.
The monthly schedule will be simple: a new selection on the second day of every month, released at midnight. Some books will be shorter, others will ask for considerably more time, and that’s fine. There’s no expectation that everyone will finish one book before the next arrives. Read what interests you, take your time, and follow the questions that come up along the way.
For the first few selections, I’ll be making the choices myself. I want to start with books I’ve read, subjects I’ve spent time researching, and works that have challenged or influenced my own thinking. As the Book Club develops, I’d like to introduce opportunities for paid subscribers to suggest and vote on future selections. I think readers should have a hand in shaping the reading list, although I’ll retain the final say over what gets featured.
I’m also leaving room for the project to grow naturally. I have ideas for additional reading resources and other possibilities, but I don’t want to promise a dozen things before I’ve had the chance to see what readers actually enjoy. I’d rather build something worthwhile, pay attention to the people participating, and let the next steps develop from there.
The first issue arrives December 2, 2026.
I’ve chosen Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici as our first selection. It’s a subject that intersects with my own interests and research, and a book that has given me plenty to think about. It has also sent me down more than a few rabbit holes, which is usually a good indication that I’ve found something worth exploring.
I’ve decided to make the entire December issue free. That includes the full feature article and the complete Epitaph Ink Book Companion PDF. Readers will be able to experience both sides of the Book Club, including the additional research, guided material, reflection questions, and other resources, before the regular membership format begins. Future issues will keep the book recommendation and review free, with the expanded companion materials reserved for paid subscribers. I want people to know what they’re getting, and I’d rather let the work speak for itself.
Epitaph Ink has always been about curiosity, independent thought, and the freedom to explore ideas without being told what conclusions we’re supposed to reach. The Book Club is another extension of that. I’m sharing books I believe are worth someone’s time, along with resources for those who want to investigate the subject a little further.
You might agree with an author, disagree with them entirely, or find yourself somewhere in between. You might discover a new interest or stumble across a piece of history that changes how you understand something else. That’s the beauty of reading. We don’t always know what we’ll find when we open a book, and I think there’s something wonderful about leaving room for that discovery.
So, here’s to good books, uncomfortable questions, unexpected discoveries, and the occasional research rabbit hole that takes us somewhere interesting.
Welcome to the Epitaph Ink Book Club.
Books worth opening. Ideas worth wrestling with.
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