10 Benefits of a Book Club

 Benefits of a Book Club

1. Book Clubs Get You Out of Your Genre Comfort Zone

This is understandable given that most book clubs have a pretty democratic book-choosing procedure. Not only is this a fair way to ensure that all group members have a say, but it also gets the club to read various works, requiring you to step outside of your comfort zone.

2. Holding yourself accountable for regular reading

The average American reads only a few books each year, and even when avid readers are included, the average only rises to roughly 12 volumes per year. Work, family, binge-able streaming services, and laundry all take time away from reading. However, joining a book club requires you to commit to reading books, which, as simple as it may sound, is one of the most appealing book club perks. 

Sure, you may not always finish the book, and you may never even begin it. A commitment to a reading group, on the other hand, forces you to make that decision consciously. When you join a book club, you'll read more...and more thoughtfully.

3. Read More Thoroughly

Speaking of intelligent reading, a book club can help you with that as well. Unless your book club is all about wine and cheese (more on that later), you'll be expected to talk about the book. Instead of skimming, skimming, or napping, you'll pay more attention to the book's intricacies.

You'll actively seek interesting themes, and favorite (or despised) characters, and generate criticisms of the author's writing style or goal. Then you'll bring your thoughts to your book club, where you'll individually throw down the gauntlet and see where the topic takes you.

4. Discussing books will make you love them even more.

Your reading group's ideas and comments will automatically broaden your understanding of the writing art. This, in turn, will improve your own reading craft, providing you with deeper and more meaningful reading experiences. 

And (hopefully) you'll enjoy more of your book club selections than you will dislike. This will fuel the literary home fires in your heart even more. 

5. Encourages Social Engagement: Snack While You Talk

I used to be a member of what we jokingly nicknamed "The Loser Book Club," because it was mostly about getting together, drinking wine, eating snacks, and catching up on life. Examining the books? Not at all.

We only felt slightly terrible about it since, while we were readers who (usually) read the book, the group was also about socializing and maintaining our friendships. 

6. A Book Club Compels You to Express Your Opinion

Another reason book clubs are beneficial is that they force you to form (and voice) an opinion. Some people are not naturally at ease doing so. However, your book club is interested in hearing your thoughts, and you may have insights that the others haven't explored. 

7. Reading Encourages Lifelong Learning

Book clubs are vital for encouraging curiosity and the habit of learning.

This benefit, however, is not limited to book clubs; it applies to all reading. However, because book clubs hold you accountable for reading more books than you would otherwise, the learning effect is more likely to occur. 

8. Book clubs encourage more diverse reading habits.

Unless a book club has a purposefully narrow focus, you will undoubtedly read more diversely in a club than if you choose novels on your own. In fact, some book clubs actively seek out provocative or hard novels.

9. Book Clubs Help 

You Meet New People Strong friendships are known to help people live healthier, longer lives. However, making new acquaintances as an adult might be difficult...at least outside of work and playdates. However, by joining a new or current group, you will undoubtedly meet new individuals. 

This friend bonus is undeniably present in a book club. It may, however, create a delicious slippery slope in which monthly book club becomes the occasional dinner/drinks/coffee date, which leads to casual hanging out, which leads to a Christmas party where you don't even speak about books and instead eat cookies.

10. Book Clubs Provide a Guilt-Free Environment for Escapism Chores are darned!

"No, I can't possibly unload the dishwasher right now because I need to finish my book club book," I explain as I burrow beneath a warm blanket in front of a warm fire. 

However, the book club isn't till next week. I just wanted to snuggle into the book because I'm fascinated by the world-building, the plot has taken a corkscrew turn, or secrets are about to be exposed and I don't want the dishes to get in the way.