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Hi Reader,

reading is often seen as a quiet, solitary activity—just you, a book, and maybe a cup of coffee. And while that sounds amazing, what if I told you that reading in public could be even more powerful?

I don’t mean reading on public transport (though that’s great too). I’m talking about reading as part of a network—discussing books, sharing ideas, and learning alongside others.

Some of my biggest reading breakthroughs didn’t come from just the books themselves. They came from conversations about those books—hearing different perspectives, debating key ideas, and seeing how others applied them.

So if you’ve ever finished a book and thought, Wow, I wish I had someone to talk about this with—this newsletter is for you. Let’s dive into how reading in public can make your nonfiction reading even more impactful.

Why reading in public makes you a better reader

We all know that reading expands our minds. But reading with others does something even better—it challenges us.

Here’s why:

• You deepen your understanding. Discussing a book forces you to clarify your thoughts and articulate what you’ve learned.
• You gain new perspectives. Someone else might interpret an idea differently or notice something you completely missed.
• You remember more. Talking about a book reinforces the key takeaways, making them stick.
• You stay motivated. Reading with others helps you finish books and engage with them more meaningfully.

The best part? You don’t need to be in a formal book club to reap these benefits. There are tons of ways to make reading a more social experience.

How to build a reading network (even if you’re an introvert)

If the idea of joining a book club makes you cringe—don’t worry. You don’t have to sit in a circle, awkwardly discussing books you don’t care about. Instead, here are some easy (and fun) ways to make reading more social.

1. Join (or start) a book club that actually excites you

Not all book clubs are created equal. The best ones:
✔️ Focus on books you’re genuinely interested in
✔️ Have members who bring thoughtful insights (not just "I liked it" comments)
✔️ Encourage real conversations, not just surface-level summaries

Where to find great book clubs?

• Fable – A digital book club platform with curated groups (I actually run my own book club there! If you love nonfiction and great discussions, you’re welcome to join).
• Reddit’s r/bookclub – A great place for structured discussions
• Meetup – Find local book clubs on any topic
• Facebook Groups – Many niche book clubs exist here
• Start your own! Pick a book, invite a few friends, and set a low-pressure reading goal.

2. Use online communities to find your “book people”

Maybe you don’t want the commitment of a book club. No problem! Online spaces let you connect with other readers anytime, on your own terms.

Here are some great places to engage:

💬 Twitter (X) – Follow threads on nonfiction books and share your own insights.
📚 Goodreads – Rate books, write reviews, and engage in discussions.
🔍 Subreddits like r/books and r/TrueLit – Great for deeper conversations.
📖 LinkedIn – Yes, really! Many professionals discuss books relevant to their industry here.

Pro tip: If a book changes your perspective, post a short takeaway on social media. You’ll be surprised how many people jump in with their own thoughts!

3. Talk about books in everyday conversations

One of the easiest ways to make reading social? Just mention books in casual conversation.

Next time someone asks what you’ve been up to, instead of saying “Not much,” try:

📖 “I just finished [Book Title]—it had this crazy idea about [concept]. Have you ever read it?”

You’d be surprised how often this sparks great discussions. Books connect people, and sometimes the best conversations happen organically.

4. Host a “Book Swap” event

Want to meet new readers and refresh your bookshelf? Host a book swap. It’s as simple as:

📅 Picking a date
📖 Inviting friends to bring books they’ve finished
💬 Trading books and chatting about them over coffee

No pressure, no required reading—just a fun way to exchange ideas and books.

What happens when you read in public?

Once you start reading with others, you’ll notice some cool things happening:

• Your reading gets more intentional. When you know you’ll discuss a book, you read more actively, take better notes, and engage more deeply.
• You remember more. Discussing books reinforces key takeaways, making them stick in your long-term memory.
• You build connections. Book discussions naturally lead to deeper conversations about ideas, work, and life.

Reading doesn’t have to be a solo journey. The right book network can make your reading experience richer, more engaging, and even life-changing.

Next week's book releases

Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to “self-improve” but, for some reason, you just can’t follow through. Turns out, the issue isn’t a lack of willpower. For centuries, we’ve been fed a common perspective: Explore your subconscious mind, heal your trauma, fit into your society, and happiness will follow, right? Wrong. Dr. Courtney Tracy, also known as “The Truth Doctor,” disrupts this outdated narrative through digestible scientific research, shockingly honest personal stories, and compassionate-yet-direct advice. Get your copy here

A deeply reported, insightful, and literary account of humankind’s battles with epidemic disease, and their outsized role in deepening inequality along racial, ethnic, class, and gender lines—in the vein of Medical Apartheid and Killing the Black Body. ​ With clear-eyed research and lush prose, A History of the World in Six Plagues shows that throughout history, outbreaks of disease have been exacerbated by and gone on to further expand the racial, economic, and sociopolitical divides we allow to fester in times of good health. Get your copy here

For the first time in over ten millennia, the rate of human population growth is slowing down. The global population is forecast to begin declining in the second half of this century, and in 10,000 years’ time our species will likely be extinct. ​ In The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire, Henry Gee shows how we arrived at this crucial moment in history, beginning his story deep in the palaeolithic past and charting our dramatic rise from one species of human among many to the most dominant animal to ever live on Earth. Get your copy here

From the creator of Millennial Money and the international bestselling author of Financial Freedom comes a comprehensive blueprint detailing how to start, build, buy, scale, and sell a business that expands your life. There’s never been a better time to become an entrepreneur. As wages stagnate and traditional jobs lose their luster, people are eager to be their own bosses and to step out of the grind. But where to begin? What are the real opportunities? How do you avoid becoming consumed by your business, with no room for yourself? Or, even better, how do you use your business to create more peace and freedom in your life. Get your copy here

In this accessible, up-to-date, and authoritative examination of the world’s most radical technology, neuroscientist and AI researcher Christopher Summerfield explores what it really takes to build a brain from scratch. We have entered a world in which disarmingly human-like chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Claude and Bard, appear to be able to talk and reason like us – and are beginning to transform everything we do. But can AI ‘think’, ‘know’ and ‘understand’? What are its values? Whose biases is it perpetuating? Can it lie and if so, could we tell? Does their arrival threaten our very existence? Get your copy here

Bianca Best is an award-winning executive, coach, thought leader and mother of four, who has learned how to succeed without compromising body, mind or soul. After years of burnout, she mastered how to blend ambition with wellbeing. And then a funny thing happened, her impact and happiness soared! This is her practical, proven and invigorating roadmap: just 8 essential strategies to holistically shift from stress and struggle to empowered rising and achieving. ​ Get your copy here

In this beautifully illustrated account, Anne Lawrence-Mathers explores the medieval fascination with magic through twenty extraordinary illuminated manuscripts. These books were highly sought after, commissioned by kings and stored in great libraries. They include an astronomical compendium made for Charlemagne’s son; The Sworn Book of Honorius, used by a secret society of trained magicians; and the highly influential Picatrix. This vivid new history shows how attitudes to magic and science changed over the medieval period—and produced great works of art as they did so. ​ Get your copy here

What I've been reading

Another week with not much reading. I’ll either try to finish or DNF The Bill Gates Problem, and I’m about to finish Courage Is Calling, which I’m really enjoying.

Thanks for reading! I'll be back in your inbox next Sunday. Let me know what you'd like to see explored in future issues.

Talk soon,
Elena

Love reading nonfiction but have no one to discuss it with? I got you! Join my nonfiction book club on Fable and connect with like-minded readers. Let's dive into great books together—it's completely free!

Learned something new today? Consider buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

P.S.: Don't have time to read an entire book but still want to soak up the key insights? Head over to Gumroad for expertly crafted book summaries that give you all the wisdom in a fraction of the time! Perfect for busy readers who crave knowledge on the go: