Why You Should Join a Book Club

BY ISABELLA CHAIKEN | DESIGN BY NIKHITHA NAIR

Right now, you may be miles away from friends and family. You can text and call them, but we all know it’s just not the same as seeing them in person. You are also likely staying at home and have a lot of newfound free time. You’ve tried multiple different new hobbies, but nothing has stuck. How about joining a book club?

Being an ‘honorary guest’ at my mom’s book club was one of the most fun things I’ve done since the onset of the pandemic. While I was skeptical at first to attend a real book club, my mom convinced me that I might as well go, because it was better than just sitting on the couch. Through open discussion about their assigned books, she has learned a lot of new perspectives and been exposed to ideas she would have never thought of! And, thanks to her, I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone and read a lot of great books I would have never even thought to pick up.

Why Should I Join a Book Club?

Being involved in a book club brings on a myriad of benefits. If you’re anything like me, you always try to start to read again, but quickly give it up. As a member of a book club, you are held accountable by others to actually read the book and finish it. Additionally, if you know that you’re going to have to speak about the book, you’re more likely to pay greater attention to the content and try to understand it on a deeper level.

It’s a great way to start reading more and perhaps even develop a valuable new habit. Consistently reading helps to build your vocabulary, broaden your knowledge, and think more analytically. It can even help to improve your grades!

In a study done in 2016, researchers found that students who read for their own pleasure scored higher on tests in english, math, science, and history than their counterparts who didn’t read by choice. Reading can actually benefit your academic performance in a wide range of subjects, not just English!

In 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of California, San Francisco carried out a study on the effects of book clubs on medical professionals that highlighted the importance of reading for career performance. The researchers found that reading a recreational book unrelated to medicine helped to decrease their burnout symptoms and positively influenced their current ways of practicing medicine. While this study only looked at medical professionals, it can be reasoned that recreational reading can benefit any profession. So if you’re looking for a way to enjoy yourself and further your career goals, try reading!

Besides simply encouraging you to read more, joining a book club can boost your mental health. In a 2017 study, researchers in Australia discovered that being in a book club can greatly reduce a person’s stress levels. For those struggling with life pressures such as from their family or their work, having an outlet away from those stressors is extremely helpful.

Partaking in a book club provides a designated space to forget about the rest of the world, and just focus on the book that you read! Being a book club member helped my mom to “develop closer relationships with her friends and took her mind off of everything else.” When you are reading a fictional story, for example, you can likely escape your current reality.

Plus, taking part in an activity that meets consistently helps to facilitate a solid routine. My mom and I are always counting down the days until the monthly Wednesday meeting when we get to finally see everyone and talk about our book.

How Can I Join a Book Club?

One of the best ways to stay connected with your loved ones is to take initiative and start a book club with them! Even if you are physically far apart, a book club allows you to have a designated time to get together virtually and become emotionally closer. With a set book club schedule, it’s harder for people to back out of your zoom call at the last minute, because it will already have been planned in advance.

Reading and discussing the same works sparks an instant conversation, so you’ll always have something to talk about. By discussing your thoughts and opinions on books, you can learn a lot about another person. Even if you are already close, reading the same book can help the two of you bond and get to know each other even better. For example, pre-COVID, my mom’s book club met once a month in order to discuss their thoughts on their monthly read. In order to adapt to the suggested safety guidelines, their 12 person book club began meeting over Zoom.

While my mom acknowledges that Zoom book club meetings are not the same experience as those in-person, she did note that the virtual format “prevents people from talking over one another,” which is an added benefit! My mom always looks forward to making her own cheese plate and seeing her friends on her book club meeting days, as it gives her a little sense of relief during these strange times.

Another avenue to facilitate a book club is by starting one with your roommates. Whether it’s family or friends you’re living with, a book club can be a great shared activity. In addition to learning more about one another, it’s a great way to simply pass the time with the people you are currently living with.

Roommate bonding is super important right now, as you are probably seeing a lot more of them than usual. Picking a book you are all interested in and getting to talk about it can be a great way to strengthen your emotional bond. Additionally, you do not have to pick a crazy challenging read — make sure it’s a book that you will enjoy and want to finish!

You can also make it a fun event by planning/meals that go along with the theme of the book. For example, if your book club chooses Harry Potter, each member could make and enjoy their own Hogwarts themed food to share while you discuss the book!

Although my roommate and I have yet to start an official book club, we have been reading some of the same books and talking about them with each other. Right now, we are both reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and it’s been so fun to share our opinions over the breakfast table. A book club doesn’t have to be an organized event with structured outlines; it can also just be you and a friend talking about a book you like!

Lastly, you could go outside of your comfort zone and join an online book club with all new people. There are currently countless online book clubs that are super easy to join. Although potentially intimidating for some, joining an online book club with strangers is a great way to hear a lot of diverse perspectives and meet people from different backgrounds than your own.

When you are stuck at home, it can be refreshing to meet some new faces. This kind of book club can help to remind you of how big the world really is outside of the comfort of your home.

If you want to join a large, diverse book club, try joining a celebrity book club. Whether it’s Reese Witherspoon’s or Oprah’s, these book clubs select a monthly read, and then people can discuss the book on an open forum. There are also interviews with the authors in order to get a better understanding of the book.

If you’re looking for personal interaction, try out some online groups. The Book Riot hosts a quarterly meeting that culminates in a video chat discussion with other people who have read the same book as you. Another option is through the Curl Up Club on instagram. Hosted by YouTuber Jenn Im, you can enter for the monthly discussion, and the participants are selected at random to ensure a small and organic conversation.

Recommended Book Clubs

If you’re looking for a book club through a designated organization, check out The Los Angeles Times book club or the New York Public Library book club. Through these organizations, you can view livestream events with authors and even submit your own questions!

The Bottom Line

No matter your reasons for wanting to join a book club, doing so will surely bring a great payoff! Staying connected online can be a real challenge, but if you put in the effort, it can all be worthwhile. It’s a simple way to develop a new, beneficial habit, engage with people on a deeper level, and is just a great way to pass the time.

References

1. “The Impact of Pleasure Reading on Academic Success.” J Multidiscip Grad Res. (2016).

2. “What’s a book club doing at a medical conference?” MedEdPublish. (2018).

3. “Reading in Community, Reading for Community: A Survey of Book Clubs in Regional Australia.” J Aust Stud. (2017).

4. “The Quarterly Group Read.” Book Riot. (2021).