Book Club
“Reading individually is a skill; reading within community is an art.”
Practice A Neighborhood Book Club
Share the idea. Ask neighbors on walks, on Nextdoor, or at the park if they have been in a book club and have interest in being in a neighborhood book club.
Create a rhythm. Meeting monthly is the default for most book clubs.
Choose a book. Find a common area of interest or genre of literature.
Snacks! Good food and drinks are invaluable to good conversations.
Talk about the book. Set the expectation and facilitate the discussion where everyone is able to share their perspective. Keep the joy of reading, listening, and learning the focus.
Share the idea. Invite other neighbors to host in their homes, and continue to invite others to join.
Thanks to readers: Carol Willis, James Rader, Joe Leininger, and Gerry Lourie for sharing their insights on what makes a good Book Club.
A book club is a practice that cultivates curiosity and community. Book reading is usually considered a solitary activity. A book club invites a reader into a shared activity. A neighborhood book club is a unique collective experience of hospitality, listening, and learning.
A book club provides a way to know others in your neighborhood beyond brief exchanges on the sidewalk. Hosting a book club in your home is a simple way to extend the length and depth of conversation with neighbors. In a cultural moment often diagnosed as an “age of loneliness”, there is something deeply relational and neighborly about taking the time to talk about a book.
Book clubs begin with common ground. Neighbors who will join in already have an existing interest in reading. A book club expands your scope of reading by introducing neighbors to new authors, content, and concepts. They promote exploration of words and the world around us. Book clubs not only benefit the readers, but they contribute to the support of local bookstores, libraries, and community engagement.
A book club is a place to practice listening. A neighborhood book club can be a low-pressure setting, providing a safe place to share diverse perspectives. Both fiction and nonfiction books will surface topics of discussion between neighbors. The conversation around a book can build alignment or bring awareness of difference. A good book club keeps the joy of reading and the gift of exchanging ideas with neighbors as the focus.
