[sszz]

Hmm I’d say all the book clubs I belong to are social first, book second; one club spends the majority of each meeting roasting the people who haven’t read the book, another good portion debating our selection procedures, and a minimal amount of time on the book itself. Different flavors for different people!

[satvikpendem]

If that's the case, why have a "book" club at all, rather than make a social gathering? Let me be clear in that I also attend social events, but they're called social events on the face of it. If I'm attending a book club, I expect to talk about books.

[chrisseaton]

> If that's the case, why have a "book" club at all

To get a conversation started, but it doesn't matter where it ends up.

Do you understand people making smalltalk and the purpose of it? It's like that.

[TheOtherHobbes]

It's a good excuse. And it attracts a Certain Kind of Person who wouldn't go for a different reason.