National Reading Group Day, which we run in partnership with the Booksellers Association, is a celebration of reading groups throughout the country and the positive effect these groups have on their members. It marks the start of Independent Bookshop Week.
This year, National Reading Group Day will take place on 15 June, and to celebrate we want you to tell us the books that inspire you to make a change in the world. Both fiction and non-fiction books can be an incredibly powerful way of encouraging us to take action and stand up for what we believe in, and we want to know which books get your group talking about the world and how you can make a difference.
Send us your recommendations by completing a quick survey, and in June we’ll share our final list of the best “Changemaker books”.
To get you started, some of our staff have shared their recommendations:
Kimberley recommends I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, Malala fought for her right to an education. Her extraordinary journey has taken her from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations.
Hari recommends The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, the story of sixteen-year-old Starr who is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her friend Khalil. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.
Kathryn’s suggestion is Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. These essays examine contemporary culture and the state of feminism today. It is a sharp, funny and sincere look at the ways in which the culture we consume becomes who we are, and an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we still need to do better.
Sadaf’s suggestion is This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein. A book that will redefine our era, Naomi Klain exposes the myths that cloud the climate debate. It’s about changing the world, before the world changes so drastically that no one is safe.
Get involved
Want to tell us more about your reading group? Send us your story and we might feature you in an upcoming article.
Make sure you don’t miss any of the latest reading ideas and offers – sign up to our free monthly newsletter.
Review your most recent books, and see what other readers have thought.
Not yet in a reading group? Find one in your area, or read out tips for starting your own.
Join in the conversation online – find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
