When does the Circle of Conversation for Peace take place?

The Circle of Conversation takes place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The venue is the vhs center of vhs in Würmtal, Room 5, Am Marktplatz 10a in 82152 Planegg.

Which book will be discussed in the reading circle?

Joana Osman's book Peace. A Real Utopia will be discussed.

Which chapters are on the agenda for November 8?

On November 8, chapters 4 and 5 on pages 53 to 75 will be read and discussed.

What is the cost of participation?

Participation in the Circle of Conversation is free.

Should the book be brought along?

Yes, the book should be independently procured and brought to the meetings.

Joana Osman Reads in Planegg 2026

Name: Circle of Conversation for Peace
Start: 2026-11-08T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-08T12:30:00+01:00
Location: vhs im Würmtal, vhs-Zentrum, Raum 5

Peace as Conversation: A Literary Reading Circle with Joana Osman

On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the vhs in Würmtal in Planegg invites you to a Circle of Conversation for Peace. The focus is on Joana Osman's book Peace. A Real Utopia, which brings together peace activist experience, political reflection, and the connective power of narratives.

Narratives Between Division and Understanding

Joana Osman examines the example of the Middle East conflict to illustrate how narratives shape social reality. Stories can harden frontlines, confirm prejudices, and separate people from one another. However, they can also enable perspective shifts, foster empathy, and open new forms of listening.

The reading circle on November 8 will focus on chapters 4 and 5 on pages 53 to 75. Historical references and the distinction between negative and positive peace according to Johan Galtung will be at the center. Thus, the meeting connects literary reading with political education and an open cultural discourse.

Literary Experience in the Format of Shared Reading

The reading atmosphere here is not created through a classic stage event, but through concentrated reading and personal exchange. The format Speaking and Listening creates space for different experiences and makes the author present as a peace activist, storyteller, and thinker in the collective conversation.

Osman, born in 1982 in Munich to a Palestinian father and a German mother, studied American Studies, Theater Studies, and Art History as well as Literacy Management. In 2012, she co-founded the peace movement The Peace Factory. Her literary works include the novels At the Bottom of the Sky and Where the Ghosts Dance. For her debut novel, she received the Phantastik Prize from the city of Wetzlar in 2020, and in 2024, she was awarded the Bavarian Arts Promotion Award in the literature category.

Literary Quality and Social Responsibility

Osman's linguistic artistry connects personal experience with a clear engagement with cultural identity, memory, and reconciliation. Her essay Peace. A Real Utopia asks how peace can be conceived as a social practice beyond the mere absence of violence. Therefore, the reading not only offers material for discussion but also a precise reflection on responsibility, self-efficacy, and the political significance of storytelling.

Conclusion: A Circle of Conversation for Open Perspectives

Visitors can expect a focused literary experience with political depth, personal encounters, and space for respectful exchange. Those who want to understand peace as a cultural, social, and linguistic task will experience an inspiring reading circle in Planegg beyond simple answers.