Vistas Book Clubs

Vistas offers four book clubs available to members only: two nonfiction book clubs, one fiction book club, and one Mystery/Espionage Book Club. Please see below for details on each book club.

Fiction Book Club

Third Thursday of each month, from September through July
10 a.m. – noon
Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara
VISTAS members only: $25 for the year

First Fall 2026 meeting: September 17, 2026

The VISTAS Fiction Book Group meets monthly for in-depth, highly satisfying discussions of a variety of types of fiction. Titles are selected and presented by individual members of the group. All group members are responsible for contributing questions and observations to the discussion. The book selected for our September meeting is “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne. Our October selection is “Small Boat” by Vincent Delecroux.
Join us for the pleasure of reading, conversing, and deepening connections with other VISTAS members. There is no limit to the size of the group.

View Flyer
2025-2026 Book List
2024-25 Book List
2023-24 Book List

FULL: Mystery/Espionage Book Club

Second Friday of each month, September through August, 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Private residence
VISTAS members only: $25 for the year; enrollment limited to 12

Mysteries! Spies! Detectives! Private Eyes! If you want to add a little intrigue to your reading list, this is the book club for you! VISTAS is pleased to announce the formation of our newest book club, dedicated to the popular genre of mysteries, spy/counterspy novels, and thrillers. Mysteries are the oldest form of literature within this arena, going back to the 19th century with the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Wilkie Collins. Spy novels began growing in popularity starting around the era of World War I, and thrillers as we know them today began to come into their own shortly after the end of World War II with books by Mickey Spillane and others.
Two books will be discussed at each session. Enrollment for this book club is limited; in case of over-enrollment, a wait-list will be created.

View Flyer
2026-27 Book List
2025-26 Book List
2024-25 Book List

This book club is full. Please email vistas@vistaslifelonglearning.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.

Nonfiction Book Club (In-Person and via Zoom)

Fourth Tuesday of each month, from January 2027 through July 2027
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Bethany Congregational Church AND simultaneously online via Zoom (members receive a link via email)
VISTAS members only: $25 for the year
Our former Monday Nonfiction Book Club has now become our TUESDAY Nonfiction Book Club. Formerly, we met via Zoom each month. We are pleased to report that starting in January, we will meet in person (at Bethany Congregational Church, 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara) AND simultaneously via Zoom. In-person attendees and Zoom participants will be able to interact via a projection screen.
Note that we will not be holding meetings during the fall months (September through December) this year. First 2027 meeting: Tuesday, January 26.

FULL: Thursday Nonfiction Book Club

Second Thursday of each month, September through July
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Private residence
VISTAS members only

Our Thursday Nonfiction Book Club meets in person at a private residence. Each discussion is led by a different group member, who comes in with suggested questions (which we are all free to supplement).
*Membership is currently full and not accepting new members at this time.

View List of Books 2025-2026
View List of Books from 2016 - 2025

*PLEASE ONLY PAY FOR THIS BOOK CLUB IF YOU ARE A CONFIRMED MEMBER