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Image for event: Book Club: Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller
Please contact the library to register for this event

Book Club: Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller

2025-08-05 18:00:00 2025-08-05 19:30:00 America/Denver Book Club: Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller Register at the reference desk, then join us to discuss the book at the library. A free book is available for the first 15 people who register and attend!  Durango Public Library - Room 3

Tuesday, August 05
6:00pm - 7:30pm

Add to Calendar 2025-08-05 18:00:00 2025-08-05 19:30:00 America/Denver Book Club: Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller Register at the reference desk, then join us to discuss the book at the library. A free book is available for the first 15 people who register and attend!  Durango Public Library - Room 3

Register at the reference desk, then join us to discuss the book at the library. A free book is available for the first 15 people who register and attend! 

Books available six weeks before book club date.

About the book:

"A wondrous debut from an extraordinary new voice in nonfiction, Why Fish Don’t Exist is a dark and astonishing tale of love, chaos, scientific obsession, and—possibly—even murder.

David Starr Jordan was a taxonomist, a man possessed with bringing order to the natural world. In time, he would be credited with discovering nearly a fifth of the fish known to humans in his day. But the more of the hidden blueprint of life he uncovered, the harder the universe seemed to try to thwart him. His specimen collections were demolished by lightning, by fire, and eventually by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake—which sent more than a thousand of his discoveries, housed in fragile glass jars, plummeting to the floor. In an instant, his life’s work was shattered.

Many might have given up, given in to despair. But Jordan? He surveyed the wreckage at his feet, found the first fish he recognized, and confidently began to rebuild his collection. And this time, he introduced one clever innovation that he believed would at last protect his work against the chaos of the world.

When NPR reporter Lulu Miller first heard this anecdote in passing, she took Jordan for a fool—a cautionary tale in hubris, or denial. But as her own life slowly unraveled, she began to wonder about him. Perhaps instead he was a model for how to go on when all seemed lost. What she would unearth about his life would transform her understanding of history, morality, and the world beneath her feet.

Part biography, part memoir, part scientific adventure, Why Fish Don’t Exist reads like a fable about how to persevere in a world where chaos will always prevail."

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | More Fun Stuff! | Book Talks |

TAGS: | |

Durango Public Library


Hours
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Mon, Sep 29 9:30AM to 6:00PM
Tue, Sep 30 9:30AM to 6:00PM
Wed, Oct 01 9:30AM to 6:00PM
Thu, Oct 02 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Fri, Oct 03 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sat, Oct 04 9:30AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Oct 05 Closed

About the Library

Overlooking the Animas River, the Durango Public Library and Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular gathering spots in our community.

Upcoming Events

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Thu, Oct 02, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 1-2.

Thu, Oct 02, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!

Thu, Oct 02, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Come speak Spanish in an informal setting. All language levels welcome! Ven a hablar español en un ambiente informal. ¡Abierto a todas las habilidades!

Fri, Oct 03, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!

Fri, Oct 03, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!

Tue, Oct 07, 10:00am - 10:45am
Santa Rita Park
Join us for Storytime and nature journaling!

Tue, Oct 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Drop-in chess games in a friendly environment.

Tue, Oct 07, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Register at the reference desk, then join us to discuss the book at the library. A free book is available for the first 15 people who register and attend! 
Please contact the library to register for this event.

Wed, Oct 08, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 3+.

Wed, Oct 08, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!

Wed, Oct 08, 6:15pm - 7:45pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
A new topic every month!

Thu, Oct 09, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 1-2.

Thu, Oct 09, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!

Thu, Oct 09, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1
Let's get creative! ¡Seamos creativos!

Fri, Oct 10, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!

Fri, Oct 10, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!

Fri, Oct 10, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
In conversation with Heather Hansman

Sat, Oct 11, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Calling knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists of all ages and levels!

Sat, Oct 11, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
With local Author Brooke Heller

Tue, Oct 14, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library
Drop-in chess games in a friendly environment.

Wed, Oct 15, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 3+.

Wed, Oct 15, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!

Wed, Oct 15, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
New venue Durango Hive - 1175 Camino Del Rio
Write and create original works with us!

Thu, Oct 16, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 1-2.

Thu, Oct 16, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!

Cancelled
Thu, Oct 16, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Durango Public Library
Come speak Spanish in an informal setting. All language levels welcome! Ven a hablar español en un ambiente informal. ¡Abierto a todas las habilidades!

Thu, Oct 16, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Join Colorado author Peter Heller for our 2025 Literature Festival Author Keynote event!

Fri, Oct 17, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!

Fri, Oct 17, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!

Fri, Oct 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
With Candace Nadon, associate English professor, Fort Lewis College.

Sat, Oct 18, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Join us for an hour of dedicated reading. Socialize after, or not!

Sat, Oct 18, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Let's make music!

Mon, Oct 20, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Climate Cafés are a space to share thoughts and feelings about the climate crisis in community.

Tue, Oct 21, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Presented by the Early Childhood Council of La Plata County.

Tue, Oct 21, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Drop-in chess games in a friendly environment.

Tue, Oct 21, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Bread Downtown
Join us at Bread Downtown for a "nontraditional" book club, where the discussion is based on a genre/topic rather than a specific book!

Wed, Oct 22, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 3+.

Wed, Oct 22, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!

Thu, Oct 23, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 1-2.

Thu, Oct 23, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!

Thu, Oct 23, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Lleva a la familia a disfrutar de cuentos y canciones bilingües en español e inglés. Bring the family for stories and songs in Spanish and English!

Fri, Oct 24, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!

Fri, Oct 24, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!

Fri, Oct 24, 5:45pm - 8:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
To celebrate the spooky season, teens have chosen to watch Five Nights at Freddy's! 

Sat, Oct 25, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Calling knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists of all ages and levels!

Sat, Oct 25, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
With Sochi Nomoto, Japanese tea ceremony teacher

Mon, Oct 27, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Learn how to reduce human-wildlife conflict through a four-part lecture series from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. All programs run 6-7:30pm.

Tue, Oct 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Drop-in chess games in a friendly environment.

Wed, Oct 29, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
A special Halloween themed storytime designed for ages 3+.

Cancelled
Wed, Oct 29, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 3+.

Wed, Oct 29, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 3
Want to make a fun space for you and your friends? Join the Teen Advisory Group! Help the library meet your needs and interests, gain valuable experience, meet new friends, and hang out!

Thu, Oct 30, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
A special Halloween themed Toddler Time designed for ages 1-2.

Cancelled
Thu, Oct 30, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library
Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, & other fun activities! Perfect for children ages 1-2.

Thu, Oct 30, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 2
Enjoy gaming in the library with a variety of games!

Fri, Oct 31, 11:00am - 11:30am
Durango Public Library - Storytime Room
Baby Time is tailored for babies from birth-12 months together with their favorite adult!

Fri, Oct 31, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Durango Public Library - Room 1&2 Combined
Friday afternoons are all about having fun building, playing, exploring, and creating together!