ABOUT THE EVENT:

How Stoic principles can help us navigate the challenges of our divided, unstable world. Can the principles of Stoicism lead us to a peaceful, 'good' life?

On Wednesday 19th November at The Royal Oak, Balmain, join Brigid Delaney in conversation with Ben Law.

Copies of The Seeker and The Sage will be available for purchase at the venue through Roaring Stories, with Delaney signing copies after the discussion.

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ABOUT THE VENUE

The Royal Oak, one of Balmain's oldest and most loved pubs has been hosting Roaring Stories author events since the inception of our events program.

Attendees are asked to arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The event bar on L1 is serving drinks from 6.30pm and also following the author talk. Seating is unallocated – another reason to arrive early to secure an optimal spot. Why not make a full evening of it, too, by ordering a meal at the Royal Oak before or after the event? To make a dinner reservation before or after the event, simply click on the restaurant reservation link here.

Royal Oak Balmain – Acrylic – Artist Jan Larsen

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ABOUT THE BOOK

We are all going to die, so how should we live?

A traumatised journalist is given a dream assignment - track down the mayor of a remote and mysterious town whose citizens are reported to be the happiest people on Earth.

Journeying into a harsh and inhospitable landscape, she overcomes many obstacles before arriving in Silver Springs, whose citizens live according to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and where she has been granted three days to interview the mayor.

The journalist wants to know how to live a good life and be a good person when she returns to the chaos outside the valley. The mayor wants to protect his dominion from being tainted by the modern world.

In her bestseller, Reasons Not to Worry, Brigid Delaney explores the foundations of Stoicism and how you can apply them to your life. Now, in The Seeker and the Sage, she asks: how can the wisdom of this ancient philosophy apply to communities, and how can we create our own utopias in an increasingly troubled world?

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ABOUT BRIGID DELANEY

Brigid Delaney has worked as a lawyer, journalist, travel writer and screenwriter and, most recently, as a speechwriter for two federal cabinet ministers.

She is co-creator and associate producer of the Netflix smash hit Wellmania and wrote the long-running and popular Guardian Australia column 'Brigid Delaney's Diary'.

Her previous books include This Restless Life, Wild Things, Wellmania and Reasons Not to Worry, which has been published in North America and the United Kingdom and translated into nineteen languages.

She writes 'The Chaos Era with Brigid Delaney' Substack, and lives in Sydney.

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ABOUT BEN LAW

Benjamin Law is the author of The Family Law (2010), Gaysia (2013), the Quarterly Essay Moral Panic 101 (2017) and editor of Growing Up Queer in Australia (2019).

Benjamin is also a playwright and AWGIE Award-winning screenwriter. His forthcoming play for Melbourne Theatre Company is Dying: A Memoir (Oct–Nov 2025). He is the co-executive producer, co-creator and co-writer of the Netflix comedy-drama Wellmania (2023), playwright of Melbourne Theatre Company’s sold-out play Torch the Place (2020) and creator and co-writer of three seasons of the award-winning SBS/Hulu/Comedy Central Asia TV series The Family Law (2016–2019).

As a broadcaster, he’s hosted ABC TV’s two-part feature documentary on Chinese-Australian history Waltzing the Dragon, ABC TV’s Compass and co-hosted ABC Radio’s Stop Everything with Beverley Wang for half a decade. He has also appeared on TV shows like Australian Survivor (Ten), Filthy Rich and Homeless (SBS), Q&A (ABC), The Drum (ABC) and The Project (Ten). He has also written for over 50 publications in Australia and beyond—including the Monthly, frankie, Guardian, Monocle and Australian Financial Review.

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

Refunds

Please note that tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled or postponed due to extenuating circumstances. Refunds are not issued within 48 hours notice of event date. Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.

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This event is presented by Roaring Stories Bookshop Balmain and Allen and Unwin.

With thanks to our venue partner The Royal Oak.

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