How to host a Silent Book Club

Apr 20, 2016

Silent Book Club started with a couple of friends sitting at the bar of a little neighborhood bistro. We were both book lovers, and on that particular evening I was on a rant about book clubs. The pressure to finish the assigned reading. The discussion guides that read like essay questions from a high school English class.

I read for pleasure. I love hanging out with friends who are book addicts like me, but, to quote Helen Ellis, I'm a grown-ass lady. I don't want to do homework. Wouldn't it be great, I mused, to have a book club where you could go to a bar with a book and a friend, order a glass of wine, and just read quietly? And with that, Silent Book Club was born.

On the last Monday of every month, we host meet ups in SF and NYC. But you don't have to live near an official chapter to join Silent Book Club. Everyone is welcome, and anyone can host a meet up. You just need a book, a bar, and a friend. Or, hey, maybe just a book, a cup of tea, and your PJs. Any time you carve out a quiet moment to read, you're following the tenets of Silent Book Club.

If you're interested in starting your own Silent Book Club chapter, we've gathered a few tips for you...

How to host Silent Book Club

How to host a Silent Book Club

1. Find a venue. We have found that the best bars for hosting SBC have a few things in common: they have couches or armchairs, which are more conducive to reading; they're not loud; and they have enough light to read. In San Francisco, we like the Palace Hotel lounge because it's not crowded on a Monday night and they don't mind if we take over a section.

2. Choose a recurring night and time. Our main chapters in SF and NYC coordinate to host our meet ups on the last Monday of the month, but if another night works better for you that's totally fine. Mondays and Tuesdays are typically quieter in most bars.

3. Invite a few friends. It doesn't have to be a big group. Three people reading books in a bar is already a revolution. We're all busy and it can be hard to commit to something every month, so don't worry if it's a small turnout.

4. Send us your info. Once you've set your date and location, we can help you promote it on our social channels and in our newsletter. Drop us a line. If you'd rather stick to a small group of personal friends, that's awesome, too. Take a snap of what you're reading and tag it with #SilentBookClub to join the many members participating online.

That's it! Put down the phone, pick up a book, and read, wine, repeat. Now, shhh. I'm reading.

— guinevere

Psst, have you signed up for our newsletter? Get event invites and member perks each month. Pass it on!

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How to host a Silent Book Club

How to host a Silent Book Club