Description
Reading groups are one of the success stories of the age. But is the Reading Group really such a new phenomenon? How do they choose and use books? What kinds of social protocols and rituals do they observe and what do they mean? Why are men less likely to be members? Why do some groups workwhile others fail? Jenny Hartley surveyed over 330 Reading Groups to find the truth behind this modern phenomenon. Answers are provided in this lively book, full of anecdotes and comments from members. It is both an important contribution to the sociology of group discussion and an excellent "howto" manual, incorporating lots of useful extra information about resources and lists of the top books chosen.
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Reading groups are one of the success stories of the age. Newspapers are writing about them; celebrities forming them. There are thought to be more than 50,000 people in reading groups in the UK (and this is nothing compared to the numbers in America). They take place in libraries, businesses, bookshops, pubs, hospitals, community centres, but above all in the home. Friendships are formed. People argue and sometimes the discussion can lead to people swapping views that they would never share in other circumstances.Jenny Hartley and Sarah Turvey surveyed over 350 Reading Groups to find the truth behind this modern phenomenon. The book is both an insightful contribution to the sociology of group discussion and a 'how to' manual, incorporating useful information about resources and lists of the top books chosen.
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