Rachel Jacobsohn, The Reading Group Handbook

Book Description
Subtitled Everything You Need to Know to Start Your Own Book Club, this non-fiction, user-friendly guide offers a wealth of information for the individual reader, those currently participating in a book group, or those thinking about joining or starting one. Hyperion's 1998 revised edition (first edition, 1994) contains the original chapters on organization details, good members, how to read material critically, and how to constructively discuss with confidence. The guide contains recipes and over thirty-five suggested reading lists, including an expanded list of year-by-year Pulitzer Prize winners, Oprah's Book Club picks, and personal recommendations from the author and her group members. The 1998 edition provides information on use of the internet, words of wisdom on Oprah's contribution to the grassroots book group movement in our country, and several powerful essays for the individual reader to enjoy.

The first edition of TRGH enjoyed three printings; this revised edition is now in its second printing and is being read all over the world. Reports are that this is the BEST book on the market for those who have fallen in love with the reading group! Jacobsohn's personal voice and sense of humor encourage readers to expand and enrich their lives through inquisitive reading and discussion. As a book-groupie said, "Once you read this book, you are hooked. Once you go to a book group, you are hooked again!"

Author's Bio
I have been facilitating book/film group discussions for over 25 years and have recently cut back from 30 groups/month to 15. This allows me more time for other professional activities:

• write/publish the newsjournal Reverberations for the Association of Book Group Readers and Leaders, "a cooperative information clearinghouse for thinking readers" that I founded in 1994.
  
• conduct facilitator training workshops
• speak on group dynamics, improved critical thinking/reading skills
• work with authors and publishers on promoting select, quality fiction
• write articles for publications/websites