I’d love your help
Can you believe we’ve been on this journey for over a month? It’s a great honor to be one of your sherpas on our meaningful quest to get more out of reading with others.
But I don’t want to be a blind leader. Over the past five newsletters, I’ve pulled out trends and insights from real conversations with fellow readers like you and done my best to translate them into a valuable newsletter.
I think I can do better. And I know I can’t do it alone. So I’m asking for your help.
I’ve broken down the past five newsletters below. Each one tries something a little different. Maybe it’s the voice in the writing, the layout and design, the topic and theme, or the length and sections.
But it all comes down to this simple question:
To help get the neurons firing, here are some supporting questions:
What would you like to see more of (and less of)?
Is something missing altogether?
What has stuck with you?
Have you shared anything you’ve read in this newsletter with others?
Your time is insanely valuable. I never take that for granted. If I’m asking you to spend time with me every week, I damn well better deliver.
The mission of this newsletter and Passage is to help you better connect and share your reading with the people who matter most. I want to put together the best newsletter, week after week, so that you feel inspired, motivated, and ready to make this a reality.
The best newsletter ideas come from you
I’ve been on this journey for some time now. I’ve learned some useful lessons along the way. Yet, I also feel there is so much more to cover. I want to build this in partnership with readers like you. I want to crack the code for unlocking a whole new level of connection through reading. Let me know what you think and thanks for being with me on this journey.
You can add your general thoughts here or give feedback for a specific newsletter edition below!
I was surprised when readers asked for more "accountability." However, they didn't mean a boss checking up on them. Constant distraction has made reading harder than it used to be, and I learned what they really want is commitment from another person.
Other highlights:
I outlined three mindset shifts to bring reading commitment to life: be a Reading Team, lead with your why, and keep fueling the team.
A news story showing how (and why) book clubs in Los Angeles have evolved from small gatherings into huge events like bookstore crawls and silent reading parties
My personal story about reading commitment and how my Team created a memorable conclusion to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
***
I tried to lead a Reading Team through Hamlet by becoming the expert, and the discussion fell flat. I realized I needed to revise my understanding of a good leader: they make every reader feel supported and seen rather than give a lecture about the book.
Other highlights:
Our team found that special energy and engagement when everyone did a dramatic Hamlet reading
A news story about a Penn course called Existential Despair that is device-free and holds discussions in the dark at 11pm. It’s one of the most sought-after courses at the university.
Passage co-founder Reilly Milton shares the special experience of reading A Wrinkle in Time with his wife and son.
***
A book club is a fragile ecosystem, and smaller groups almost always work better. Larger clubs can work but depend much more on formal structure, skilled facilitation, and cumulative effort to get the same benefits as smaller groups.
Other highlights:
Member motivation, enthusiasm, and effort all flow into the ecosystem as people interact with the book and each other. Members who put a lot into the ecosystem want a lot out.
A news story about a father and daughter who endeavor to take on all 800 pages of Middlemarch together, and it doesn’t go as planned.
A Passage community member shares how she feels supported when reading.
***
Books may be the most overlooked tool we have for connecting with people. To unlock that, you need a "sharing ritual" - which is very different from a reading habit.
Other highlights:
My sharing ritual is three scaffolded questions: "What did you think?" leads to "What stuck out to you?" which leads to "What was the book about?"
A news story talks about reading aloud and associated benefits including memory improvement, understanding complex tests, and strengthening emotional bonds
Passage community member, Bianca, and two other women enthusiastically form a book club after finding out they had all read the same book.
***
Reading together works best when it's planned like a shared trip, with the book and the people on equal footing. Groups that tilt too far toward either don’t get the full value they are hoping for.
Other highlights:
Too much focus on the book leaves your thoughts unshared, and too much focus on the people turns the group into a social hour.
A news story details the rise of multi-day book retreat excursions where groups travel together and the entire experience is curated around reading and books.
I'm leading a group through Lonesome Dove, all 900+ pages, on a reading trip that will echo through the ages
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WANT TO TALK?
I’m grateful for your readership and any thoughts you share. I’m going to take an extra week to dissect and reflect (so next newsletter will be Friday 10/30).
Also, if you have a lot of thoughts and would prefer to talk, I’d love to make it happen. Just reply to this email and we can get something scheduled that works for you.
-Joel