Let’s talk about online book clubs. In a nutshell, the premise of a book club is to read a book with a group of people and have discussions about your readings. But they are so much more than that. If you’re a fan of reading and a fan of meeting and collaborating with different people, virtually, read on.
Here are 10 reasons why we should all be participating in book clubs
Reason #1: Community
Book clubs remind me of school days and story time. Grabbing a book with a friend and going to the rug to read. Talking about the characters and what’s happening. Books bring people together. Clubs bring people together. Clubs make you feel like you have people; that you’re a part of a community, and when we feel like we are a part of something, it increases our abilities to face hardships and raises our positive vibes.
Reason #2: Cool Books
Who loves books? Like, the smell of books. The feel of books. There’s a used book store in New York City that I used to frequent, and it smelled so good. You could just smell and imagine all the history, tales, and happiness that each book brought to others. I could spend hours in a bookstore. A book is a way to escape, to learn, to self-develop, and think of all the ways we can access books now! Kindles! Audio! Amazon!
Reason #3: Like-Minded People
Typically you join a book club for the book, but you also join because there’s a great possibility that like-minded people will join you. People that have the same ideologies, personal goals, and passions. It feels safe and comforting, which leads me to the next reason online book clubs are so amazing.
Reason #4: Vulnerability Safe Place
The book club is a safe place for your vulnerabilities, your fears, your aspirations, and your feelings. Currently, I’m participating in an online book club and the book is about overcoming challenges. There are discussion questions that really make me dig deep and it feels a little uncomfortable until I see other members getting deep and personal.
Reason #5: Difficult Conversations
Anybody seen the movie Date Night, with Tina Fey and Steve Carell? There’s a book club scene in the beginning and Steve is the only male in a room full of emotional women. He steps “out of line,” according to another participant and then is relieved when his buddy saves him and gets him out of there. It’s a comical scene but leads me to the fifth reason that book clubs are so beneficial. In our current national situation, with issues of racial inequity, climate change, healthcare, and so much more, there’s no better time for difficult conversations. The online book club opens the door for these, and again holds a safe space for you to be you. Bring your culture, your background, your experiences, and don’t be afraid to speak up.
Reason #6: Personal Development
Depending on the book you’re reading for the book club, whether it be about personal development, a story, a how-to, or a memoir, you will definitely learn something new! And that doesn’t just come from reading, it comes from spending time with people and being a part of a group and part of a project. You learn how to communicate, how to pace yourself, how to manage your time and of course, whatever life lessons you learn from the book itself. Being a part of a book club is a learning experience. Being a part of any community forces you to put yourself out there, and get out of your comfort zone. This leads to increased confidence and self-discovery.
Reason #7: Accountability
Think about how good it feels to finish something. A feeling of accomplishment is so good for the soul. Do you know why prospective employers want to see that you have a degree or a certification? It’s because it signifies you being able to work towards a goal and being able to complete your work. In a book club, the same applies. You have accountability partners. You have set times to meet and others are right alongside you. You want to be able to communicate about your findings and feelings on the weekly reading, and therefore you must read the book and you must show up.
Reason #8: Gain New Perspective
Even though there may be like-minded individuals in your online book club, everyone brings with them a different story, a different experience, and a different outlook. This is a great way to gain self-awareness as well as social awareness, which is abundantly crucial for mankind. When we are socially aware, we can understand and empathize with others and it makes us better humans. When we can imagine ourselves in others’ shoes, we gain perspective. Having perspective is priceless.
Reason #9: You Time
Let’s face it, we are all busy. We’re working multiple jobs, taking care of others, playing multiple roles, and it’s so important to take time for ourselves. An online book club is great for “you time.” We take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others, right? So why not step outside into your rocking chair, or cozy up in your recliner and bury your nose in a book. Unplug from all the technology, in fact, leave it in another room and go get some “you time.”
Reason #10: Friends for Life
In a book club, you will meet people from all walks of life, whether it’s in person, through social media, or an online book club. And it’s with these people that you can stay connected forever! You might meet your best friend, or your future spouse, or maybe even a business partner. Maybe you want to continue participating in book clubs together, maybe you want to partner and start your own book club together. The possibilities are endless. Meeting new people is so good for our mental health and for the human experience. So get out there!
Written by Heather Thomas, Teacher, Health Enthusiast and Curriculum Designer at hiitide. See what it’s about here.
