How to Start an Office Book Club for National Read a Book Day

What is National Read a Book Day? 🤔

National Read a Book Day is celebrated annually on September 6th. It is a day dedicated to encouraging and promoting the joys of reading. On this day, people are encouraged to set aside time to read a book of their choice, explore different genres, or engage in reading-related activities.

National Read a Book Day serves as a reminder of the importance of reading in our lives. Reading offers numerous benefits, including expanding knowledge, enhancing imagination, improving vocabulary and language skills, reducing stress, and fostering a lifelong love for learning.

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The benefits of reading:

• Cognitive function: Studies by Rush University Medical Center show that reading regularly can lead to slower cognitive decline and reduce the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's by keeping the brain engaged and active. 🧠
• Emotional well-being: Reading can reduce stress levels by up to 68%, surpassing other stress-reduction activities such as listening to music or going for a walk. Reading fiction also increases empathy and emotional intelligence, enabling readers to better understand and relate to others' emotions. 💗
• Professional success: Research by the National Endowment for the Arts shows that reading enhances critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which are highly valued in the workplace. 📈
• Mental health: Reading has been linked to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, offering a form of therapeutic escape and relaxation. 🍃

Starting a company book club is a great way to encourage professional development and foster personal growth as a team.

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How can you start a virtual office book club for National Read a Book Day? 📚

1. Gauge interest and define a schedule 📅

Start by gauging interest among your colleagues or employees. Send out a company-wide email detailing the amount of time they'll have to read the book and the date of the book club discussion. Then, take a poll to determine how many people are interested in participating in your book club.

To encourage maximum participation, consider establishing a longer timeline for completing the book, without multiple discussions throughout, so that everyone can manage reading at their own pace.

How to get started 👉 Send your team a Google Form or Google Form alternatives to gather information from your employees that would like to participate!

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2. Choose the book 📘

Once you have an idea of the number of interested participants, gather their preferences regarding the types of books they would like to read. Consider creating a shortlist of genres or specific books and have members vote for their preferences. This will help you choose a book that appeals to the whole team.

Consider a variety of factors such as genre, length, and accessibility. Skip the Harry Potter or dense history books, it's a good idea to choose a book that sparks interest and discussion while being relatively accessible for everyone to engage with.

Here are some examples of books that would be great for your office book party:

1. Motivational‍

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink
• Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear
• Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

2. Business/Professional Development

• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
• The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

3. Fiction

• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
• A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

4. Memoirs

• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• Wild by Cheryl Strayed
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

How to get started 👉 It may be difficult for the book lovers in your office to find a copy at their local library. Once you've chosen a book, give your employees a gift card so they can purchase their own copy!

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3. Create a dedicated communication channel 💬

Using a Slack channel to discuss the book throughout the month of reading can be a fantastic way to keep the conversation alive and inclusive for your team's varying bandwidth. To encourage active engagement, create a dedicated channel specifically for the book club discussions.

Create threads within the channel for each chapter or section of the book. This allows readers to delve into specific parts of the book without spoiling plot points for those who may be behind on their reading.

In addition to chapter-specific threads, consider having general discussion threads where participants can share their overall impressions, favorite characters, or overarching themes of the book once they've finished.

With a communication channel, employees can engage in ongoing discussions, share their thoughts in an organized manner, and respect the reading pace of others, which means that all participants can actively participate in the book club discussions throughout the month.

How to get started 👉 Create an employee book club Slack channel with threads where people can discuss chapters throughout the month of reading.

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4. Host your book club discussion 👥

Hosting your virtual book club discussion on National Read a Book Day can make the event even more special and celebratory:

• Start by coming up with a list of thought-provoking discussion questions in advance: These questions should touch on key discussion points such as themes, character development, or significant plot points in the book. Sharing the questions with participants prior to the discussion allows them to reflect and prepare their responses, leading to more engaging and insightful conversations during the virtual meeting.

• Consider assigning someone from the team to lead the discussion: This person can moderate the conversation, read aloud meaningful passages, ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute, and keep the discussion on track. Having a dedicated discussion leader helps facilitate a smooth and productive exchange of ideas, ensuring that everyone's perspectives are heard.

• Provide your team members with food and refreshments to enjoy at home during the virtual book club event. Coordinate with a local food delivery service or arrange for individually packaged treats to be sent to each participant's home. This small gesture adds a touch of excitement and makes the event feel more like an enjoyable social gathering, even in a virtual setting.

How to get started 👉 Turn your discussion into a Lunch Party!

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Celebrate Reading on National Read a Book Day!

Starting an office book club for National Read a Book Day is the perfect way to foster a love for reading, promote intellectual discussions, and create a sense of community among colleagues.

So, gather your coworkers, select an intriguing book, and embark on a literary journey that will not only expand your knowledge but also deepen the connections and engage employees within your office. Happy reading!

Are you looking for more ways you can level up your virtual employee book club? Check out our Gifting and Swag collection for more treats and refreshments!