Online Book Groups Enabled by Technology and Social Media
You are familiar with the scene. A group of friends or coworkers gather in a living room to discuss the monthly book group selection. Some pastries and light drinks are served and the members of the group begin a discussion about the story.
Fast forward to today and the scene has changed… or at least it is changing. In 2006 when Goodreads.com launched their website there were a limited number of people who felt inclined to catalog all the books they had read, were currently reading, and wanted to read. In July 2013, a few months after being acquired by Amazon.com for an undisclosed amount, Goodreads reported over 20 million members.
As Goodreads, social media, and technology generally make it easier for virtual book groups to be formed, a company found the environment right to launch the first author-led book group in January 2012. 12 Books business book group was launched to connect business book readers directly with the authors of the best selling books the members read. As the group has grown it has attracted attention from some of the major publishing houses. Our very own Erik Qualman was featured in the group with his book “Digital Leader” in April 2012.
Technology allows a group of people who were limited by space and distance to scale up to become a international collaborative. With that kind of size greater leaders (in this case authors) are more easily attracted to participate and contribute. This increases the value that each participant can take from the experience while removing barriers like travel and time.
Today imagine the scene differently. Book group members no longer gather around a living room (at least not the whole group). Members listen to or read the books at the breakfast table, in their commute, or during a workout. They open the Goodreads app on their phone to get insights from chapter 5 from the other group members around the world. At the end of the month they gather virtually on the phone to ask the author additional questions.
If technology can change something as traditional as book groups then everything is subject to change. As Meetup.com uses technology to make physical meetups greater and larger, technology is also driving local meetups to the internet. What is next?
[image error]
