If you have been out and about in Atlanta, you have probably seen something very unusual—groups of people who are reading silently to themselves. These meet-ups are a way for people to read and socialize, which is part of a growing trend of Silent Book Club (SBC).
The global organization has over 1,000 branches where adults of all ages come to read. The first chapter was founded in San Francisco in 2012 by two women, and the idea really took off and is now fostering this love of reading and connection in 50 countries.
The Atlanta chapter usually has between 130 and 170 people attending. It is increasingly popular with the participants. "It is a space where I can quietly read with others," Danielle Clarke, a reader with SBC Atlanta, said.
Once the reading session ends, people can move around and socialize with one another, or not. "As a new reader, I thought it would be special to step into this space with my books and hopefully meet new people," said Spencer Bonner, another reader with SBC Atlanta.
SBC is part of a new resurgence (复苏) of the old-style book clubs, where everyone reads the same book and comes together to discuss it.
In this digital world where people work long days on computers, book clubs are a way to make genuine human offline connections.
"I want to connect with my friends in a context that doesn't rely on spending money and the book club offers at least one inexpensive social opportunity per month," one book club regular said.
Some book clubs focus on economic issues while others focus on literature. What they all have in common is that they give people a sense of belonging, something everyone needs.
