There are book clubs galore. 10 tips for making them last.

As someone who couldn’t tell a shortstop from a linebacker, I rarely read articles about athletes or sports in general. Recently, however, one headline commanded my attention: “Why This Superstar Pitcher for the Mets Started a Book Club.” Reading on, I discovered that Noah Syndergaard, sidelined for several months after an elbow injury, had announced on twitter that he was starting a book club to advance his education. The NY Times article reported that Mr. Syndergaard hoped others would be inspired to join the club and broaden their interests. “I just think that’s what being a New Yorker is all about, being hungry for more,” he said. “That is exactly what I am doing. I am hungry for more knowledge and compassion and empathy.”

As a book club member of long-standing (30 years), I couldn’t agree with him more. And many others do as well. In the U.S. book club membership tops five million people.

The popularity of these clubs derives from the considerable benefits they offer. In an earlier article I outlined some of the personal benefits friends and I have realized from our book group over the years. But there are professional benefits as well. In “Why Business People Should Join Book Clubs,” ?John Coleman, a leadership expert, makes the case that book clubs are great for professional development. Beyond helping you read more deeply and understand diverse perspectives, being in group discussions helps you build confidence and the ability to converse more effectively with others.

For all of the prevalence of book clubs and the benefits they bring, I have spoken to many people who tell me their book clubs began with gusto but fizzled over time. Their hunger for more persists, but the group does not. They marvel when I say that my book club has kept at it for three decades. What does it take to have this staying power?

Every book club has its own personality. There is no formula for guaranteed success, but I can share what I have learned about what has worked for us for all these years.

1)?????Seek curiosity and open-mindedness. If you are just starting a group or looking for additional members, reach out to people whom you believe love to read and will commit to making a real effort (almost always!) to read each book selected before coming to the meeting. Your best friend may not be your best choice. Look for people who are deeply curious and routinely set aside time to read.

2)?????Commit in each meeting to talk about the book. It seems so obvious a piece of advice, but I can tell you that a number of people I know dropped out of their book group because they never really talked about the books they had chosen. It’s easy when you gather with friends to let conversations about everyday events and concerns take over. However, for your club to work, put the focus on the book. In my group we have relied on the practice of having members take turns serving as a moderator to get the discussion started. This person usually begins by offering some background on the author. She may then comment on various reviews of the book and then open with some questions to prompt discussion. It rarely takes much to get us talking, but the moderator centers us and ensures that we will spend some of our time together diving into the book itself.

3)?????Select books by consensus. The process for us has been somewhat unwieldy, but it has worked. Toward the end of each meeting, we create space for members to suggest ideas and then one or two books will seem to rise to the top of the list. Eventually someone will say – okay, let’s do that one for next month. Any one of us can put the kibosh on a choice – for whatever reason: too dark, too long, too similar to what we have been reading, and then we’ll look for another idea. Another book group that I know rotates the selection with each member taking turns selecting the next book. The important thing is to make sure people feel they have a say in what gets read. (And a note of caution: When you offer an idea for a reading, it’s also important to realize that not everyone will love it as much as you do. Several members, including me, recall suggesting a couple books along the way that met with tepid response. That can be tough to hear, but it’s important to keep in mind that people will enjoy the exposure to the content no matter what. So don’t take it personally.)

4)?????Make space for each member’s voice. In book groups as in other convenings in our lives, some people talk much more than others. It’s never going to be equal, but members can make a point of reaching out to those who haven’t said very much and bring them into the conversation. Engaging everyone and respecting their perspectives is essential to ensure book club longevity.

5)?????Spice up the book choice. Over the years we have done fiction, biographies, poetry, plays, non-fiction. A favorite amongst many of us have been the classics such as Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, Death of the Archbishop by Willa Cather, Emma by Jane Austen, Middlemarch by George Eliot, and so many more. Don’t limit yourself to books that are on the best sellers list. But sample those as well.

6)?????Set consistent meeting times. For years, we met on the first Wednesday of the month. We rarely moved the meeting even if a couple members couldn’t join. Now that our group has dwindled in size, and we are meeting on Zoom rather than in someone’s home, we are more flexible in timing. But maintaining that cadence for years was important for the stability of the group – and ease of scheduling.

7)?????Find a convivial setting. For 28 years we took turns hosting book group in our homes. The hostess would offer a glass of wine and snacks or a light supper. Since April 2020, we have met via Zoom (which has the added benefit of allowing us to bring back members who had moved away). While we long to get together again, the chance to connect in these difficult times has been a gift to all.

8)?????Respect confidentiality. Book groups are not confessionals or therapy sessions. However, discussions of literature may prompt individuals to offer personal reflections on their life’s experiences. These reflections are intended to be shared within the group and not beyond.

9)?????Make sure someone is in charge of keeping the group going. I’ve gladly played that role in our book group for many years. Someone needs to take the lead in making sure meetings get scheduled, books get selected, and members volunteer to moderate. This person should also keep a running list of books that the group has read to create a literary history for the club. Without this guidance, the group could easily slip away.

10)??Just get going and have fun. Don’t worry about getting everything exactly right. The format will evolve. The membership will change. The important thing is to bring a few people together who are eager to try to establish a reading group and begin. Then just enjoy the pleasure of discovering books together and feeding everyone’s hunger for more knowledge, compassion, and empathy.