Book clubs have long been an integral part of our culture, connecting people with shared interests and often providing stimulating conversations and even debates among members. Today there are more book clubs than ever, and their growth is substantial as new formats emerge.
What is driving all this growth? Clubs are now on platforms like Zoom and social media, and are the emphasis of meetup groups, allowing readers from diverse backgrounds to unite over books. According to a survey by BookBrowse,14% of virtual book clubs reported gaining members since the start of the pandemic.
Some book clubs are general in nature while others have a specific focus. Niche groups range from mystery, non-fiction, romance and historical fiction to feminist, LGBTQ, religious and romance readers.
There also are large cohorts of generational groups such as Millennials, Gen Z and seniors. Still others follow the lead of celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager and Oprah Winfrey. These groups have had a huge impact on what people read.
An emerging trend with a different take are silent book clubs. These groups are BYOB — bring your own book to read. Members are separate and silent, but still together in a common activity. “Togetherness” seems to be the operative word.
Just as the psychologist Abraham Maslow wrote many decades ago about affinity as a basic human need, socializing is of high importance today. One Millennial talked about their book club saying, “It’s just a good way to connect with people.” Another added, “Discussing a piece of literature is a great way to get to know someone better.” Finding a compatible group can also be an antidote to loneliness or an anchor of sorts in a fractious world.
The urgency of being together was magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic, and virtual technology was there to help. This not only helped people working and meeting from home, it also helped book clubs to thrive.
The ease of finding a place to meet also fuels book club growth. Book lovers meet in bars, restaurants and other spots. I heard from a group of women in their 80s who meet remotely each month across four time zones. They initially resisted this idea, wanting to avoid technology, but now show delight as they see each other on the screen.
Hearing new perspectives is another advantage of being in a book club. “It’s interesting to hear the other person’s point of view,” as one woman said. Some people tend to pick up on certain themes within a book that others never considered. Club members note, “You can read a diverse number of books you wouldn’t normally pick.” This is typical, as studies show that more than half of book club members report reading books they wouldn’t typically choose.
Other benefits are the ability to keep up on things or to have a ready conversation starter. We can say, “I read that,” when popular or emerging books are mentioned or comfortably ask, “Have you read anything interesting lately?”
Then there’s the persistent issue of friendship, as noted above. While the average lifespan of a book club is 2.5 years, the group mentioned above with members who are in their 80s has been ongoing for 55 years. Now they’re getting book club suggestions from their grown children. They don’t allow any new members though, saying, “We all know too much about each other.”
The value of reading is undisputed. Being part of a book club takes you one step further toward providing opportunities for friendships and socialization.
Books have always been a path toward education, but book clubs have brought readers out of a solitary endeavor to share their thoughts, perceptions and knowledge. They broadened the horizons of their members by introducing a diversity of books to read followed by lively discussions.
There’s little doubt that groups are meeting the needs of readers of all ages and interests.
Whether your club meets at your local library, home, public place or online, clubs have taken book lovers to new levels while fostering friendships, exchanging ideas and learning. It is no wonder they’ve gained in popularity.
To learn more about the world of books, and to connect with fellow book lovers, consider attending Brandeis National Committee Phoenix Chapter’s Book & Author 2025 event Feb. 24 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale. Theme is Carnival of Books, and proceeds will benefit BNC’s Engineering the Future campaign at Brandeis University.
Editor’s note: Avid reader and book club member Elaine Howard is a retired director of brand loyalty for research. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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