How to Start a Book Club That Does Not Suck

Book clubs have a reputation for being boring. They do not have to be.

Keep the group small. Four to six people. Larger groups are hard to schedule and harder to have real conversations.

Let different people pick books. Rotate the choice. The person who picks the book leads the discussion. That spreads the work and gives everybody a chance to share what they love.

Do not read books nobody likes. If the group hates a book, stop reading it. Life is too short.

Have food and drinks. Book clubs are social events. The book is the excuse. The conversation is the point.

Do not force deep analysis. You do not need to discuss symbolism and theme. Talk about what you liked, what you did not, and what it made you think about. That is enough.

The best book clubs feel like hanging out with friends who happen to have read the same book.