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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T100000
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SUMMARY:Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Pop-Up
DESCRIPTION:To mark World Suicide Prevention Day\, on Friday 11th September\, the Greater Manchester Bereavement Service will be hosting their pop up session at the House of Books & Friends from 10am – 12pm. \nAll are welcome to attend to learn more about bereavement and the Greater Manchester Bereavement Service. These free drop ins are open to the public\, service users and professionals. You can register for free on Eventbrite. \nThere will also be an opportunity to speak to a Bereavement Practitioner for help and support. \nEach month the topic will change so keep on eye out for information and feel free to get in touch with any questions by calling 0161 983 0902 or emailing gmicb-sal.gm.bs@nhs.net. \nFuture Pop-Up Dates (10am – 12pm) \n\nThursday 3rd December\n\nFor more information visit greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/greater-manchester-bereavement-service-pop-up-3
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
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ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T110000
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DTSTAMP:20260825T102527Z
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SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections – Weekly Community Meet Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm (except bank holidays). \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 11 September  \nFriday 18 September  \nFriday 25 September 
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-14
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
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ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T210000
DTSTAMP:20260914T110323Z
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SUMMARY:SOLD OUT: 'The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI' by Cory Doctorow
DESCRIPTION:To celebrate the launch of Take Back Big Tech\, House of Books and Friend is excited to welcome science fiction author\, activist\, and journalist Cory Doctorow\, in conversation with Jovan Owusu-Nepaul\, to discuss his new book ‘The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence Before It’s Too Late’.\n\n  \nThe event will take place on Friday 11th September\, and will involve a discussion\, a Q&A\, and a chance for you to get your book signed by Cory. Doors open at 6pm\, with the event starting at 6:45pm.\n\n\n  \nPLEASE NOTE: This event will be recorded live for the podcast What’s Left\, hosted by Jovan and will be found on their website after the event.\n\n\n\nTickets: \nBook and ticket – £16.99 \nTicket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \n\nAbout the book:\n\n\nIt’s not enough to ask what the technology does – we must understand who it’s doing it for and who it’s doing it to. \nAs we enter the age of AI\, we are in danger of being reduced to what Cory Doctorow dubs the ‘reverse centaur’. With that term he conjures a human being conscripted as the assistant to a dominant machine. It could be a driver made to deliver nonstop\, all day long; a warehouse worker packing shelves without bathroom or food breaks; or a programmer reviewing impossible amounts of AI-produced code. \nDon’t fall for the hype! The billionaires managing the rise of AI are putting on a command performance for the bosses and investors\, not for the ordinary people who might use the products. When this latest tech bubble bursts\, will there be something useful for us in the wreckage? \nIn The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI\, Doctorow examines why we find ourselves in this mess and how we can get out of it. Life after AI should mean the tools work for us\, not the other way around. \nAbout Jovan \nJovan Owusu-Nepaul is the co-host of the ‘what’s left?!’ Podcast\, a writer\, commentator\, consultant and former Labour parliamentary candidate in 2024. \nInterested in the big subjects of the day\, Jovan spends too much of his time trying to consider the practical solutions to our problems\, and since the general election has taken a keen interest in the rise of populism\, and where it stems from. \nMinded by issues of social justice\, fairness and access to opportunity\, this is what forms the thread of Jovan’s approach to the world! \nAbout Take Back Big Tech \nTake Back Big Tech is a pressure group and think tank. We exist to hold Big Tech accountable and fight for alternatives that actually work for the people who use them\, not just the companies that run them. \nSocial media promised to connect us. AI promised to help us. Instead\, our attention became the product\, and the platforms we rely on are now flooded with abuse\, fraud\, disinformation and AI-generated noise — while their profits keep climbing. We think that’s worth fighting. Learn more here.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-event-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai-by-cory-doctorow
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
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