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The Inner Lives of Book Clubs

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The Inner Lives of Book Clubs is the essential guide to all things book club. In it you'll discover the elements that most happy and successful book clubs have in common, you'll find solutions to a dozen common book club problems, and so much more! It combines the findings from two surveys of more than 5,000 book clubbers with BookBrowse's 15 years of book club experience and research. Recommended for every library and every book club!

Use the form to the right to download immediately in PDF for just $19.00 (US$).

Discover:

  • The attributes most successful book groups share

  • What book clubs look for when picking a book

  • What people want from their book club

  • The 12 most common book club problems, and how groups resolve them

  • The link between discussion length and happiness

  • How the demographics of public book clubs compare to private groups

  • Why people leave book clubs

  • What readers not in book clubs think of them

Want to know more? Watch a short introductory video (right), or a 50-minute webinar for librarians; browse reviews (below); view the opening pages; or see Publishers Weekly, the American Library Association and the BBC.

Get Your Copy Now!

Instantly download a PDF copy from anywhere in the world by completing the form at the top right of this page. Price in US$.

Watch a brief introduction

Print ISBN: 978-1-7336192-2-6
LCCN: 2019900458

Media Inquiries: Click Here

  • I have been running the Recycle Book Club for over four years and got a number of ideas from your report that I am anxious to apply. Thank you, for putting so much effort into making all book clubs better.

    Lloyd Russell, The Recycle Book Club, Campbell, CA

  • The report is fascinating, and got more interesting the more that I read. It is well written and informative, clearly organized and beautifully designed.

    Beata Obydzinski, Branch Manager, Monterey County Free Libraries


  • I've spoken with over 200 book clubs in the past fifteen years and this report is not only consistent with my experience with clubs, it told me things I never knew about them. Fascinating, detailed, and highly recommended to book clubs and anyone involved in the book trade."

    Alan Brennert, author of
    "Daughter of Moloka'i"

  • It's a wonderful report, so very interesting. I learned so much about how to better run a book group, and it has re-energized me to make our group better. I think it should be given to every librarian.

    Terye Balogh, Milpitas Public Library, CA



  • I thoroughly enjoyed The Inner Lives of Book Clubs because the content caused me to reflect on my own book club experiences. Also, I was especially impressed with the qualitative data, the defined intended audience, how well the research was conducted and how easy the report was to comprehend.

    Darcus Smith, Adult Librarian, Edmond Library

  • Your research is impeccable, and your conclusions well supported. It is a treat to read because there is nothing else like it available. Since we run a book group program here at Darien Library supporting over 100 book groups and growing, it is of great interest to us what is happening nation-wide. Thank you for helping to keep us on top of trends.

    Patricia Sheary, Darien Library, CT

  • You focused on all the things I've wondered about book clubs through the years. Thank you for such an informative study.

    Lynne Zolli, book club member

  • The Inner Lives of Book Clubs is fantastic. It gives a thorough, well-rounded picture of book clubs.

    Seth Morris, Assistant Director, Crown Publishing Group

  • This is absolutely phenomenal. Great job!

    Kena Clarke, Me Time Book Club, Tuscaloosa, AL

  • Fascinating report! A must read from BookBrowse!

    NYT bestselling author, owner AuthorBuzz.com, M.J. Rose

  • As a book publisher, I found The Inner Lives of Book Clubs to be objectively revelatory well beyond anything else that's out there. As a book lover, it inspired me to start my own book club - the right way.

    Bruce L. Bortz, Publisher, Bancroft Press, a Top-Ten Indie Since 1992

  • I was struck by the universality of the desires book club members have and the issues that arise. I loved how you outlined the problems that book clubs have and how they responded. I kept nodding and thinking: we've been there and we've done that.

    Beth Martin, book club member

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