20 Best Book Club Books to Share and Discuss with Your Group

Wondering what your book club should read this month? Choosing a title that pleases everyone can be tricky. To run a successful book club, you should make the selection process as democratic as possible, giving everyone’s voice a chance to be heard.

But if your group is short on ideas, have no fear—we’ve got you covered with 20 titles that are not only excellent books, but also sure to start engaging and thoughtful conversations.

Nonfiction Book Club Books

These nonfiction titles will lead your team to some insightful discussions at your next meeting.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

At 36, nearing the completion of his training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. As a new father suddenly faced with his own mortality, Paul reflects on what makes a virtuous and meaningful life.

Published posthumously in 2015, When Breath Becomes Air is a beautiful, life-affirming reflection on facing death from a man who was both doctor and patient.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

No matter your political preferences, Michelle Obama’s memoir will inspire you to reflect on your own “becoming,” a process that’s never quite complete.

WIth the trademark honesty and wit that made her so relatable as First Lady, Michelle traces her childhood in the South Side of Chicago, where she was told by a high school counselor that she wasn’t “Princeton material,” to her years as an executive juggling motherhood, work, and marriage, and finally her residency at America’s most famous address.

She also candidly reveals her reactions to the 2016 elections and the divisive state of our country today.

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is the incredible and inspiring memoir of a woman who sets foot in a classroom for the very first time at age 17, before going on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University, leaving behind her survivalist upbringing in Idaho.

Humankind by Rutger Bregman

Given all the bad news we hear every single day, People Magazine says this book is “the riveting pick-me-up we all need right now.”

Author Rutger Bregman makes the bold and surprising argument that humans actually thrive in times of crisis, and that it’s our innate kindness and cooperation that have led to our long-term success on Earth.

Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen

Most of us experience toxic thoughts from time to time (or even every day)—but it is possible to control those thoughts and escape harmful thinking patterns.

Get Out of Your Head offers tools and tips for transforming the emotions, outlook, and circumstances that make you feel helpless and overwhelmed so you can discover endless possibilities.

You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy

All of us could do a better job when it comes to listening. Even though we live in a world where communication is faster and easier than ever, we’re not really listening, and no one is listening to us.

Kate Murphy offers a humorous deep dive into the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening so we can reverse the current trends.

On All Fronts by Clarissa Ward

If flying into war zones, being smuggled across borders, and speaking face-to-face with jihadi terrorists feels a little too adventurous for you, don’t worry: Clarissa Ward has done it all so you can live vicariously through her intriguing memoir.

But beyond the allure and adrenaline of being a war correspondent, Ward tells with true compassion and empathy the stories of real people caught in the middle—stories that much of the world is too quick to forget.

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Journalist, author, and podcast host Malcolm Gladwell explores what happens when we encounter new people, and why those encounters rarely turn out as well as they could.

Using statistics, research, and famous cases such as Bernie Madoff, Amanda Knox, and others, Gladwell examines the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don’t know.

The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani

Former New York Times critic Michiko Kakutani explores the cultural forces that came into play decades ago and led us to a present where conspiracy theories and propaganda play out on our screens every day.

Not That Bad by Roxane Gay

Edited by bestselling author Roxane Gay, this collection of personal essays explores the issues of rape, assault, and harassment in a culture where movements like #MeToo gain speed, yet victims are still “routinely second-guessed, blown off, discredited, denigrated, besmirched, belittled, patronized, mocked, shamed, gaslit, insulted, bullied” for speaking out.

Fiction Book Club Books

These fiction titles are as thought-provoking as they are entertaining.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

This riveting novel, now a hit Hulu series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, takes place in Shaker Heights, a pristine suburb of Ohio where everything is planned and organized to perfection.

The Richardson family seems to be the embodiment of this perfection, but when the enigmatic Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl move into town and threaten to disrupt the order, Elena Richardson grows determined to uncover the secrets of Mia’s past.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Three women find themselves at three different personal crossroads, but they will all end up in the same shocking place.

Big Little Lies explores ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, and the seemingly small lies that can lead to tragic accidents… or was it a murder?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Starr Carter must navigate between the two very different worlds she occupies: the poor neighborhood she calls home, and the fancy prep school she attends.

This already difficult balance is destroyed when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her best friend, whose death becomes a national headline. Some call Khalil a thug, while others protest in his name. What Starr says—or doesn’t—could upend her community and threaten her life.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Kya Clark has survived for years alone in the marsh she calls home, but she finds herself yearning to be touched and loved.

Two young men from town become intrigued by her, and Kya opens herself up to a new life—until a man is found dead in Barkley Cove, and locals suspect the so-called Marsh Girl.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

More than 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, the Republic of Gilead still finds itself under the grip of the theocratic regime, but as signs of weakening power appear, the lives of three very different women converge.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

It’s the summer of 1997, and Casey Peabody has just arrived in Massachusetts without a plan—she’s still wrecked by a recent love affair and in shock after her mother’s sudden death.

At 31, she is still determined to live a creative life. She rents a tiny room attached to a garage, where she works on a novel she’s been trying to finish for 6 years. This bestseller follows Casey through the final days of a long youth, where everything in her life seems to be reaching a crisis at once.

Want by Lynn Steger

Elizabeth came to New York years ago to chase a dream and build a life. But today, she finds herself with two kids, a husband, two jobs, a PhD—and declaring bankruptcy. She reaches out to Sasha, her childhood best friend, who happens to find herself in a crisis of her own. Their shared struggles might bring them back into each other’s lives for good.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

At their small town high school, Connell and Marianne couldn’t have been more different: Connell is popular, while Marianne is a loner.

But when they find themselves both studying at Trinity College, the tables are turned: Marianne is thriving in a new social environment, while Connell is shy and unsure about everything. The two constantly find themselves drawn back to one another, but they each must confront how far they’re willing to go to save the other.

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

The City We Became is set in today’s New York, where a supernatural force seems to hum along with the mundanity of everyday life. Explore culture, identity, magic, and myths in each of New York’s unique boroughs.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra, an artist, live a simple, full life with their family and friends in the hills of Aleppo—until everything they love is destroyed by war.

To escape Syria, they make a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece, in search of an uncertain future in Britain. Their story puts human faces on the crisis in Syria, and reminds us that we are all vulnerable to displacement when once unimaginable events become reality.

What Are the Best Book Clubs?

Ideally, book clubs meet in person, perhaps at a neighbor’s home or somewhere else in your community. There are snacks and refreshments to compliment the lively conversation.

However, with many of us now required to socially distance ourselves, meeting up in person might not be realistic.

Luckily, there are plenty of online book clubs and virtual groups you can join to stay connected with your fellow book lovers.

Here are a few you might consider trying:

Oprah’s Book Club: The Queen of Daytime is also one of the most influential connoisseurs of literature. Sign up for her book club newsletter, where you’ll be notified of all her selections, and access videos of Oprah’s interviews with many of the authors on her lists.

Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club: Join the over 13,000 members of the Goodreads Book Club, where the group focuses on books that were selected for the site’s best-of-the-year awards. To join the conversation, all you have to do is start or add to a discussion thread.

Now Read This: This PBS NewsHour—New York Times book club focuses on books that “help us make sense of today’s world.” Join the club through their Facebook group, where they also host discussions, or sign up for their club newsletter.

New York Public Library and WNYC Virtual Book Club: The NYPL, in partnership with public radio station WNYC, started this virtual book club which also livestreams author interviews and hosts virtual discussions.

How to Discuss Books with Your Book Club

Okay, so you and your book club decided on a book, and everyone has finished reading it (or so they say). Now what?

The point of a book club is to encourage open, thought-provoking conversations about the books you read. (Okay, the wine and snacks are important too.)

To keep the conversations engaging, check out our list of book club discussion questions for fiction and nonfiction.

Which books would you like to read next, alone or with a book club? Share your picks in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

The post 20 Best Book Club Books to Share and Discuss with Your Group appeared first on TCK Publishing.

Search This Blog

TCK Publishing Videos