Shining light on the importance of UW’s Student Book Clubs.
by Ella Tomes
Walking into the student organization fairs can sometimes feel like there are endless aisles of opportunities to uncover. You might even miss a whole world of clubs you never have known existed. For me, that was the UW-Madison’s book clubs. I call myself a reader as if it were hyphenated into my last name. But how did I manage to miss all the under-the-radar book clubs here on campus? And how can we ensure that they and their importance do not go unnoticed? Well, that’s what I am here to help you with today.
First, let’s start with the book clubs available for students.
It might feel like a lot to keep up with assigned class readings and an assigned book club pick, but luckily for us, RRAD exists! RRAD stands for Recreational Reading and Discussion. They are a group that meets to discuss anything book-related. You can talk about any book you are reading or have read because there is no monthly assigned book. It’s a perfect space to go after a long day trudging up Bascom Hill to let loose and engage in fun conversations about any book you want to.
For readers who do want that traditional monthly book pick the Badger Book Club, is a great choice; its focus is to bring together curious readers eager to share their unique perspectives in every discussion. They hope their monthly pick helps students find friendships along the way, bringing people together through conversations that start between the pages.
If you are looking for a place to challenge yourself and the current bans on books, The Banned Books Club is your spot. Their mission is to devote time to discussing and defending the books currently being banned or censored. They encourage critical thinking not only through reading but also by engaging directly with the community through literature-based fundraising initiatives.
Reading is basically a workout for your brain, like hitting leg day at the Nick and the Neuroscience Book Club (Also called The Brainy Book Club) is for anyone who wants to understand what’s happening behind the scenes. They are curious to examine the brain not only through books but also through journals and podcasts. It’s a great fit if you are searching for the community of a book club, but with more science-based readings and discussions.
Even though each book club has its own way of working, their importance contributes to a bigger collective. In the age of social media and doomscrolling, many people have lost the want or need to get lost in the pages of a floppy paperback, meaning that literary discussions are on the decline as well. That is why these book clubs are a vital part of our campus; they are spaces where any reader can reflect on the books or material they read and discuss them aloud with their peers, and it might even open their eyes to new perspectives they’ve never seen before. There are so many great books out there, but what makes them so remarkable is the people with great minds who read them. And when we discuss the challenges, emotions, thoughts, and opinions we have while reading with one another, we become a force to be reckoned with.