If you are a woman who loves to read thought provoking books, and is looking for men who enjoy the same, I can promise to help you with at least one of those things.
I can, at a minimum, introduce you to a growing group of women, who are finding that men don’t join reading groups.
For the most part.
Now if you are a guy, who wants to read more, and also meet some intelligent women questing for truth…well…I know for sure I can help you!
Since beginning the Explore Truth Readers project, we’ve had a few good men join us on this group reading journey. But in comparison, there has been a clear and overwhelming female response.
I began thinking…hmmm…what’s up with women gravitating towards this reading group idea?
The stats seem to support this anechdotal evidence.
Generally speaking, it appears that neither gender really reads all that much. According to recent studies, the average American read only four books last year, and one in four adults read no books at all. But when it comes to who reads more, except in history and biography, women read more than men in every other category.
Why is it that men don’t seem that into book clubs?
I’m still trying to figure it out. I know plenty of guys who read. But admittedly many who prefer sports center. I also know many women who do and many more who don’t.
Jason Pinter writes in the Huffington Post, that publishing is alienating men. When it comes to joining book clubs, elsewhere I read that things are changing, and that more and more men are joining book clubs. Some are actually starting all men reading groups.
Maybe there are some deeper gender role issues to dig into here.
But let me ask you…
What is the first image you think of when you hear book club?
If you thought of something resembling the sisterhood of the traveling pants…well…maybe there is something wrong with our perception of gender and reading.
It was not my secret plan to be mostly surrounded, by intelligent, book reading, and truth exploring women.
But this is currently my lot. Ahhh…I’m not complaining. But I would love to see a more mixed group. Anything to ensure that we don’t take another left turn and end up discussing what everyone’s favorite Maxwell song is. :->
But despite that…we’ve had some great discussions.
During one of our online chat sessions, one of these women told me point blank, they are looking for men who read! So there you have it…You are welcome to join us men.
Written by Veron Graham
Topics: Blog