Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
Humanism and Its Aspirations
Upcoming Events
Annual Meeting and Winter Solstice Celebration
Monday, December 15, 2025, 6:30PM
This is our annual meeting, held on the third Monday of December at 700 Hartford Turnpike in Hamden.
It’s that time again for our traditional solstice potluck dinner with live music provided by Mickey Koth and John Kalinowski!
Please bring a dish to share.
There will be a short annual meeting, primarily for the election of the Board. We’ll have the traditional reading of Lois Woodrow’s “Ode to the Tilt” and even a quiz!
Gayle Walter will be on hand to collect new, unopened packages of socks for the homeless and our treasurer will be available to collect memberships.
Let’s get together and celebrate!
Annual Brunch
Thursday, December 25, 2025, 12:00PM
This is our annual brunch. Come out and enjoy the company of other humanists on a day most of the country is closed.
We’ll …
Humanist Explorations
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 2:30PM
This is our monthly Humanist Explorations meeting. We meet at 700 Hartford Turnpike in Hamden for a presentation followed by a…
Social Dinner
Monday, January 5, 2026, 7:00PM
Join us at Thai Stories for our monthly Social Dinner, and discuss a wide range of topics with like-minded people. (We’re…
Monthly Meeting
Monday, January 19, 2026, 6:30PM
This is our monthly meeting, held on the third Monday of the month at 700 Hartford Turnpike in Hamden.
We usually meet for coffee …
Book Discussions
"A Libertarian Walks into a Bear" by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
Saturday, December 20, 2025, 2:30PM
Our book for December is A Libertarian Walks into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears) by journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling.
From Amazon: Once upon a time, a group of libertarians got together and hatched the Free Town Project, a plan to take over an American town and completely eliminate its government. In 2004, they set their sights on Grafton, NH, a barely populated settlement with one paved road. When they descended on Grafton, public funding for pretty much everything shrank: the fire department, the library, the schoolhouse…The anything-goes atmosphere soon caught the attention of Grafton’s neighbors: the bears…The bears smelled food and opportunity.
A Libertarian Walks into a Bear is the sometimes funny, sometimes terrifying tale of what happens when a government disappears into the woods. Complete with gunplay, adventure, and backstabbing politicians, this is the ultimate story of a quintessential American experiment – to live free or die, perhaps from a bear.
“[A] witty and precisely observed debut…Hongoltz-Hetling skillfully probes shortcomings and ironies in the libertarian philosophy…The result is an entertaining and incisive portrait of political ideology run amok.” – Publishers Weekly
"The Chaos Machine" by Max Fisher
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30PM
Our book for January is The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired our Minds and the World by journalist Max …
"James" by Percival Everett
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 2:30PM
Our book for February (Black History Month) is James by award-winning writer Percival Everett.
From Amazon:
When the enslaved…
You can download the New Haven Free Public Library’s flyer for the 2024 book discussions at the Wilson Branch.
Our Calendar
Be sure to sign up for our e-mail list to get advance notification of events.
You can RSVP for most HAC events via meetup.com.
Newsletter
Titles selected for our book discussions can be found in most local libraries or ordered from bookstores such as Barnes and Noble.
HAC is a chapter of the American Humanist Association and a UU Humanists local group.