A group of suburban fathers has formed an all-male book club that meets at a British pub to discuss novels, countering trends of declining male readership. Started last year with three members, the club now has seven avid readers who share diverse fiction selections. The initiative highlights how such groups can foster social reading habits amid statistics showing only 27.7 percent of men read at least one fiction book annually.
The book club began last year when the organizer, a fiction writer and creative writing professor, invited two neighbors, Michael and Jake, to discuss Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword over pints at a local pub. What started as a tentative gathering of three grew to seven members—friends and neighbors who are involved fathers with demanding jobs in fields like banking, sales, and stock trading. They meet roughly once a month on Tuesday nights, adapting schedules around work and family commitments, to talk about books ranging from genre fiction to classics.
Over the past year, the group has covered titles including Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, Mick Herron's Slow Horses, Donna Tartt's The Secret History, RF Kuang's Babel, Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted, and a collection of Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales edited by Philip Pullman. They also read Jonathan Rosen's nonfiction The Best Minds. Discussions last from one to two hours, focusing on surprises, humor, emotions, writing style, and endings, with members ranking books on a scale of 1 to 5. Not every selection resonates—Babel drew criticism for its handling of colonialism themes, and Haunted repulsed some—but the exchanges remain engaging.
This effort responds to a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts study revealing that 27.7 percent of men read at least one fiction book, compared to 46.9 percent of women, amid an overall decline in American reading. Articles in outlets like The New York Times have explored reasons, such as preferences for practical nonfiction or a feminized publishing industry. However, the organizer notes that data analyses, including from Vox, suggest the gender gap has been stable for a decade. While 88 percent of private book clubs are women-only, per Publishers Weekly, public library groups often include men. The club members, who read privately in genres like Star Trek novelizations and James Baldwin's works, appreciate the social outlet without it feeling like school or therapy.
The organizer observes a tendency toward adventure-themed books evoking childhood aspirations, like spies or astronauts. He recommends starting similar clubs simply: choose a quiet spot, vote on books from options, ensure equal sharing, and keep it flexible. Plans include a group outing to the Project Hail Mary film adaptation. Such groups, the organizer argues, normalize male reading and build community, though not all invited men join due to time constraints.