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Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our current Book Cohort offerings and book your seat directly! Once you join, you will receive a link to join our online community in your email confirmation. If you’re having any trouble, don’t worry — our administrators track membership and will add you to the online Circle community within 24-48 hours.
There are no requirements to join — all readers are welcome. All you need is a sense that you crave a space to read with others and explore the text through discussion. Registration is always on a first-come basis. We’ll meet you where you are!
Yes! The New Commons is a project born out of a desire to create spaces for connection: to deeply read books, ensure real learning outcomes, and have authentic, low-stakes but challenging conversations with others in a warm and welcoming way. Unlike a reading seminar, a lecture series, or an audited class, we create an intentionally small space that welcomes a range of self-expression and authentic participation—and sometimes that feels weird or challenging! We’ve developed a strong ethos around how we think about dialogue, as well as Group Agreements, which we will go over at the beginning of each cohort. You will be guided through this part of the process, and your participation is never forced.
Yes! Cohorts are on if at least four students enroll. If less than four enroll, you get your money back, 100% guaranteed. You will know by the enrollment deadline, or within three weeks of the start date.
We are an unaccredited, independent, extracurricular/supplemental training program. Think of us as a reading seminar that holds a strong ethos around community interaction, dialogue practices, and relationships so that the experience invites self-expression and connection in real and long-lasting ways.
Book clubs are often free and wonderful places to read books and meet new people. But the emphasis can sometimes be more on the social experience, and the level of rigor in dialogue can vary. The New Commons is a place to exercise your mind and practice the craft of dialogue in real-time, under the guidance of experienced instructors who have studied literature in depth, with advanced degrees and/or years of professional experience in education.
Many high-quality reading seminars are available online; however, they can vary to the extent that they provide a small group setting, a dialogue philosophy, outlined learning objectives and prompts, and perpetual membership available in an online community. We aim to bring together all of these added elements and features in a clearly structured and accessible way at The New Commons.
Founding Member: Everyone who enrolls in a cohort before December 31, 2026 will become a Founding Member and receive 20% off on all cohorts—now and in the future.
General Rates: Rates are determined by the length of the cohort. You can visit our Book Cohorts page to see upcoming cohort offerings.
Scholarships: We do not offer scholarships at this time. However, we are price-conscious, and it is our goal to be able to offer scholarships to students in need as soon as possible.