BRICKS Virtual Book Club: ‘Gods and Kings’ by Dana Thomas

This month, we’re chatting all about ‘Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano’ by Dana Thomas, for BRICKS Book Club, free for Learner Platform members.

Our BRICKS Book Club pick for July is ‘Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano’ by Dana Thomas. In ‘Gods and Kings’, fashion critic Thomas chronicles the legendary designers’ rise and falls from the industry, unpacks how high fashion has changed from the 90s to now, and sharing insights into how art has suffered at the hands of economic demands.

From the 90s to now, everyone in fashion knows their names: Alexander McQueen and John Galliano. After mirroring origins at CSM to each launching their eponymous labels and heading-up some of fashion’s biggest luxury houses, McQueen exploded onto the fashion scene for his dark, subversive tailored designs unpacking controversial themes on the runway until his passing in 2010. Meanwhile, Galliano gained a reputation as one of the world’s most innovative designers until in 2011, when an antisemetic and racist video surfaced resulting in his complete dismissal from the industry until recent years.

Join us on Monday 28th July at our virtual Zoom club meeting to discuss the book and chat with other emerging creatives. Plus our Contributing Editor and Book Club host Hannah Bertolino will be sticking around for 30-minutes of mentoring after the call!

Tickets are available to purchase for £5 on Eventbrite (Si apre in una nuova finestra), and BRICKS Learner Platform members can attend for free by adding the free ticket discount code available via Steady. Sign up for your 30-day free trial to join, and – to chat as you read – be sure to log onto our BRICKS Book Club Community Discord (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Please scroll to the end of this email to access your free ticket discount code.

Below, we’ve included some further information regarding how our virtual book club can benefit you.

Diverse Perspectives = Fresh Creative Energy

Our book club is all about spotlighting stories that dig into culture, identity, and social issues – especially from voices that don’t always get centre stage. It’s a rich mix of insight and imagination that stretches how we see the world. Reading helps you think bigger, design deeper, and make work that actually says something.

Creative Community & Real Connections

Our book club isn’t just about reading – it’s about getting to know fellow artists, designers, writers, thinkers, and creatives. Swapping thoughts over a book often turns into real friendships, spontaneous collabs, or that one piece of feedback you didn’t know you needed. Basically; it’s a creative network in its most natural, unforced form.

Mental Stretching

Instead of doom-scrolling, we’re diving into stories that open up new ways of thinking, especially from voices and cultures that don’t always get heard. These reads are like a workout for your worldview, expanding your creative thinking and helping you make work that’s more thoughtful, inclusive, and socially aware.

Consistency and Creative Habit-Building

Reading regularly gives your mind the same kind of consistency that journaling or sketching gives your creativity. It’s a low-pressure, high-reward ritual that fills your time with real stimulation, keeping your ideas flowing long after you close the book.

Cross-Medium Magic

The best creative breakthroughs often come from outside your bubble. Sometimes the best ideas come from talking books with people who create in totally different ways. A filmmaker, an illustrator, a musician; each brings a new lens. When you read outside your usual genre and outside your usual crowd, the conversations get way more interesting.

FAQ’S

WHEN IS OUR NEXT MEETING? 

Monday 28th June at 7PM BST (2PM ET)

WHERE IS IT? 

This event will take place in a virtual Zoom webinar. You’ll receive the Zoom link in your email once you sign up. 

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Tickets are available to purchase for £5 on Eventbrite here.

BRICKS Learner Platform members can attend for free by adding the free ticket discount code available via Steady. Check your email inbox or directly on our Steady page to find your free ticket discount code – Learner Platform members must still register via Eventbrite to gain access to the Zoom webinar link.

WHAT IS THIS MONTH’S BOOK?

For our June BRICKS Book Club , we’ll be reading ‘Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano’ by Dana Thomas.

WHERE CAN I GET THE BOOK?

If you’re looking for a physical copy and would like independent bookseller recommendations, we’ve started a Master Doc (Si apre in una nuova finestra)to share recommendations of where to support. If you’d like to add a recommendation to the Master Doc, please drop us a message on the Discord (Si apre in una nuova finestra)channel – this is being regularly updated.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE CLUB MEETING? 

This isn’t a book club where you have to come prepared with talking points, or even finish the book (but if you want to, that’s great!). Come chat and ask questions or just listen and enjoy the discussions – everyone is welcome to join in and feel creative, in whatever way feels most comfortable. 

UNDERSTANDING ZOOM WEBINARS

To allow everyone to join the virtual book club and get involved as much as they would like to, Hannah Bertolino will be managing the call via Zoom Webinars. Webinars allow hosts (Hannah) as well as extend permission for attendees to speak. Attendees' microphones are muted by default – Hannah will ask the chat if you would like to share your thoughts, and you will be promoted to a panellist to speak to the group.

Attendees who would not like to speak can still get involved via the Chat and can engage with polls and surveys created by Hannah.