Book Discussion Groups

CREATING YOUR OWN DISCUSSION GROUPS

As a service unit to the students of WMU, faculty, staff, and the community of Kalamazoo,  the Lewis Walker Institute encourages learning through intensive reading, discussions, and cognitive experience. We pride ourselves on the One Community model as it guides our educational, service, and applied research at the Walker Institute.

We are often asked about one of our most popular choices, the community book read, that joins people in meaningful discussion. A breakthrough in critical issues can begin with just two people reading and discussing a book. If you'd like to have more people join and don't exactly know where to start, we have outlined some basic rules to get you started. 

Steps to Start your Own Book Group

1. Make copies available to the group or inform them where they may be able to get them.
2. Identify your audience
3. Choose dates, times, and a modality for group meeting (virtual or in person)
4. Create a graphic for distribution of information to alert people
5. Create a set of questions to spark the debate and discussion of the reading material