Now, if you thought the history of book clubs was started by Oprah Winfrey, it’s a good thought but unfortunately, you’re wrong! From classy French saloons to the most proletarian western interests, the book club history runs deep. Millions of people are drawing their inspirations from book clubs. They’ve become so influential that the views of literary minds are impacting people’s decisions and affecting how people handle stressful situations. 

Today, book clubs are being used to boost teamwork skills, providing new perspectives for better living, and are also behind the development of new relationships and the conversion of would-be lawbreakers to law-abiding citizens. So, how does it really work? You might ask. Well, unless you join one, there is no better way of explaining how it works but you’ll definitely gain a lot from various literary minds across the globe. In this piece, nonetheless, we’ll be shedding more light on how to use book clubs as a learning tool.

1. Finding Purpose

Edgar Allan Poe, a renowned American writer and a poet, was once quoted saying that the best things in life make you sweaty. Finding purpose is no easy thing. Most people spend their whole lives searching for their purpose for living. Personal growth is an important aspect of fulfilled living. To learn something new in a book club, it’s important that you first and foremost define the purpose of the book club. While it’s okay to have a book club where you enjoy greeting new faces every now and then or sharing a cup of coffee, it’s most crucial that you find a book club where you’ll share ideas and support each other as a group. But the first step should be about deciding on the theme and tone of the club. 

2. Nominate the Right Books for the Club

There are over 150 million books published in modern history. This means that your book selection process will not be an easy one as it will be overwhelming and painstaking. But let’s face it, you already have a book in mind that you’ve wanted to introduce to your book club. If not, here’s how to select the right books for your book club for the purposes of learning:

• Finding books based on a specific author – There are different types of authors depending on their genre of specialization. However, books from inspiring authors are self-illuminating and they are the ideal books to use as a learning tool. For instance, in a given timeline, you may choose to go through a specific author’s collection of books, especially if it’s an inspirational author like Tim Ferris, a renowned American author, entrepreneur, and online personality. If you browse this list from Bobby Voicu of The CEO Library, you’ll discover some of the most inspirational books written by “the king of self-optimization” himself, as well as his top recommendations of books you should give a try. The collection will definitely keep you busy, entertained, and even inspired. You’ll also get to know more about the author and learn the main themes or ideas the author is passing through their books.
• Topic selection – It’s very important that you select books with relevant topics on issues that affect your everyday life.
• Book-length – While it’s okay to have a lengthy book, some book club members may not have the patience for it. Select books that are short, precise, and to the point.
• Cost – Before you select a book, it’s important to check the price tag on the book in question. Not all expensive books will have what you need in a book club. This is why you need to read the synopsis before making the final decision

3. Get to Know the People

While not everyone is a reader, most will appreciate a good book and will significantly gain from it. This tells you that you need not raise your expectations of the people in your book club. There’s something to be learned from different personalities. Different people will interpret a book differently and this is perhaps what makes a book club interesting. You can have different views that are all valid from just a single chapter. This is a great way to broaden your perspective and also have a better understanding of what you would have otherwise considered ordinary.

4. Trust the Process

There are a plethora of processes involved in a book club. But while the organizational rules in a book club may not work when you want them to, the learning process is the same. There are so many ideas you can adopt from a book club. It may take longer to go through a book, but at the end of the day, there’ll be something worth sacrificing your time and resources for.

It takes a lot of attention, detail, and planning when it comes to involving yourself in a beneficial book club. Because let’s face it, not all book clubs can be used as learning tools. Nonetheless, the right book clubs can be an economical learning tool and a spring to quench any knowledge seeker.