What Makes a Good Book Club

Book Clubs succeed for a variety of reasons but one of the success factors involves the types of books that get selected by the members.

Each book group is different. When most people start new book clubs, they make a decision on the books they will read and we have found that these choices vary widely. Each group takes on its own personality based on the works they choose to read.

These are some of the exclusive focus areas we have uncovered that book groups all around the globe use:

Romance novels
Mysteries
Science fiction
Best Seller Lists
Art history
Oprah’s Book List
Pets
Gardening
Short stories
Travel
Cooking, eating
Biographies
Spirituality

The list goes on and on. What’s missing from their discussions is a framework to decide what they want the book to DO for them. For instance, does each member want enlightenment, entertainment, advanced knowledge, excitement, dreams? A book club will survive better if each reader agrees to seek the same experience from the works they choose.

One book club has decided to focus on books that provide them with spiritual growth. They have been reading a variety of books from spiritual leaders of the past and present including shamans, priests, monks, and self-acclaimed spiritual teachers. The club as a group has decided together they want to elevate their own individual spirituality and have it affect all aspects of their daily living. They want to live what they read. That has allowed the group to have in-depth and personal discussions after reading each of their book selections. They have evolved for years together and have extended their discussions to include experiences they have outside of their book club meetings. Whether or not you endorse their focus is not the point here. They have decided to be clear about the criteria they have on what the books will DO for them.

There is more information on criteria for good book clubs
to help ensure a successful experience for each member of the club.