Nonfiction for Reading Groups -- Report from BEA

It was a great Book Expo America. Not only did I get to see celebs like Ed Koch, Jessica Seinfeld and my favorite Project Runway judge, Nina Garcia, but on the book club front there were at least three panels devoted to reading groups held during the fair. One focused on non-fiction for reading groups  as opposed to the sometimes steady diet  of fiction we often find ourselves enjoying. Book Club Girl bookseller favorite Joseph-Beth was represented and handed out a list of the top nonfiction choices that their registered book clubs are reading. Tune in later this week for more nonfiction picks from ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Joseph-Beth's list - in no particular order, and actually, this is just half their list, I'll post the remainder tomorrow: (I've posted as many of the guides as i can find)

This I Believe
The Bookseller of Kabul
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Faith Club
The Tender Bar -- rdg. group guide
The Great Escape: 9 Jews Who Fled hitler and changed the World
Any Wendell Berry title
I Am Not Myself These Days -- author website
The God Delusion
A Walk in the Woods
Julie and Julia -- rdg. group guide
Guns, Germs and Steel -- rdg. group guide
Running with Scissors
The Pursuit of Happyness
The Places in Between
Traveling Mercies/Plan B -- rdg. group guide for Traveling
Brunelleschi's Dome
City of Falling Angels -- rdg. group guide
Nickel and Dimed -- rdg. group guide
Measure of a Man
Blink/The Tipping Point -- rdg. group guide for Blink
Into the Wild
Stumbling onto Happiness
The Year of Magical Thinking -- read about my book group's discussion of this one here
Eat, Pray, Love -- rdg. group guide

Comments

[Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute]

Hi,

I was also at BEA as an author of a new book that I feel would be a great fit for book discussion groups, though I admit to being new at making the author to book group connection.

My book, Life On Purpose: 6 Passages to an Inspired Life outlines in a coaching approach a systematic, spiritually based way to become clear about your life purpose and how to design your life to be a reflection of that purpose.

My question is, I'm I on or off the mark? Would this type of book be a good match for book discussion groups?

One of my trained coaches has also put together a book discussion guide and we're in the final stages of book discussion packages that will be available through the Life On Purpose web site.

And how is the best way to connect with book discussion groups, especially ones interested in their personal and spiritual growth?

Inquiring minds (mine) wants to know. Thanks