Joining a book club makes reading a pleasure

It might be said that book clubs exemplify the idea of “the more the merrier.” Why not read a book together when doing so provides us with the chance to gather as a group and participate in lively discussion?

It may come as no surprise that one of the primary benefits of joining a book club is socialization. SuddenlySenior.com notes that seniors may experience social isolation in retirement, particularly if mobility and transportation are issues. That isolation can lead to health concerns, too, including a higher risk for stroke, heart disease, and dementia. Joining a book club is a wonderful way to make new friends—having the same book in common is a natural conversation starter as well. 

Another benefit of being in a book club is, well, reading. None other than the Harvard Business Review has written that joining a book club results in a systematic commitment to more reading. By joining a book club, you’ll be more likely to reach your annual reading goals because of the accountability provided by the club. It turns out that group activities related to a hobby such as reading often result in more positive habits, too. 

There’s also the benefit of learning something new and better understanding a variety of viewpoints and perspectives, whether from the author or other members of the club. We’ve written recently about the benefits of lifelong learning. The Association for Psychological Science has written how learning something that’s mentally demanding results in improved cognitive function. That can result in slowing how the brain ages.   

Monarch Landing has its own library among its many amenities. Nichols Library, a short drive away in downtown Naperville, provides a wealth of events including book group discussions and more. And in addition to reading, Monarch Landing residents are engaged in a wide array of mentally stimulating activities including brain games, trivia, card games, and more. 

George R.R. Martin, whose stories became the television series “Game of Thrones,” wrote that “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” The benefits of reading—whether alone or as a group—go well beyond what most of us might expect.