Book Club Guide
for In-Person Clubs
Why Book Club?
People who love to read love to talk about what they read!
But there is more to a quality book club than just reading the book. The first big mistake that most people make when starting a book club is to think that all you have to do is choose a book, get some friends together and a meaningful, book driven discussion will just happen.
NOT SO!
The only way to ensure that your club survives (and is an evening you look forward to instead of dread) is to follow a few simple book club rules.
Once you have the rules down, follow this book club guide for how to set up an in-person book club, and you'll find that starting your own reading group will be simple and sweet!
The In-Person Book Club How To List...
How to Form a Book Club
Start with four core members, including yourself. After each member has hosted once, you can choose to add ONE MEMBER EACH. Your group should never more than double in size. Think too many cooks in the kitchen
How to Organize a Book Club Schedule
Choose a specific day and week to hold your meetings each month. For example, if the first Tuesday of every month is free for everybody put it on your calendars. Meetings should never change unless there is an extreme emergency and the group makes a collective decision to move it. Otherwise, book club is a commitment that everyone must keep!
How to Host an In-Person Book Club Meeting
Each month a different member hosts. If you are the founder, chances are you will host first. This means you get to pick the book! Set up a hosting schedule and stay in rotation. The only change would be when adding new members. The host is responsible for the communication
and entertainment for the evening.
How to Have a Book Club be Successful
Here is the CARDINAL, UNBREAKABLE rule of book club - you MUST read the book! The person choosing the book will present it at that night's meeting and like it or lump it you have to read it. Not reading equals dismissal from the group!
How to Run a Book Club Discussion
Each member should come prepared to each meeting with either a couple of discussion questions/topics or a favorite passage to talk about. An unfocused discussion leads to talking about which contestant got kicked off The Masked Singer that week!
How to Create a Book Club Atmosphere that Keeps
People Coming Back
Be nice and have fun! Ask any book club member and they'll tell you - the more controversial the book, the more heated the argument, the more everybody love loves your meeting, leaves happy, and can't wait to pick up the next book selection!
You've learned how to run an in-person book club that will be successful if you follow the book club how to list. You're asking yourself the questions - "why join a book club?" Or "why start a book club?"
Your answer is - you love to read and want to talk about it! Now all that's left is for you to take the plunge with the help of this book club guide!
Finished up with this page? Return to our home page to continue on your book club journey. Or, jump to our BEST OF trBCQ list!