SocialButterfly

Love Social Change? Join us and #read4change.

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 | Changeblogging: NP, activism, social change +, SocialButterfly

We know there are multiple ways to connect. Offline, on Facebook, within an email, etc. Many of these are quick 140-headlines and/or aren’t necessarily in real-time. So, I’m proposing a new way, a less “it’s-for-work” or “I-want-to-network” way for our community to interact.

I have an idea.

But it slightly depends on you.

So one question: Like books?

The Big Idea: An Online Social Change Book Club

I just had one of those freakish “ah-ha” moments. Bare with me while I explain…

The idea started forming when my mom told me I should add a page to my blog that talks about the books I read and recommend.

Then, my mom emailed me saying her book club wanted to get a package of books for my fiance and I as a wedding present. Ever since, I’ve spotted more books I’d like to read.

And better yet, many of you SB readers have been recommending some fascinating titles.

So, Here’s how it works:

1. We meet online (monthly or bi-monthly–you choose) on Twitter using the hashtag: #read4change.
2. We all throw out suggestions for us to consider. I’ll keep a running tab. Each month, together, we’ll choose a book using Twitpoll.
3. Because this is new, we will start, with our first #read4change chat on November 7 from 11am-12pm EST.
4. After each round, we vote on the next book based on everyone’s recommendations. A week later, the book is chosen.
5. Good news–you can recommend a book for the group to read at any time to have it added to the list.
6. I’m also hoping to create eventbrite invites, just so we all know who’s reading along should we want to chat prior to the livechat. If you want added to the list, shoot me an email.
7. Maybe, down the road, we could even get the authors to join us…
8. Quarterly, we can get off our bums and do a community service project around reading.
9. Around the holidays, help donate books….the possibilities are endless!

Let’s Start

Here’s the list of books for us to consider for the first pow-wow, based on some recent recommendations I’ve received myself:

1. The Social Atom by Mark Buchana (recommended by Susannah Fox)
2. Causewired by Tom Watson (recommended Tim Brauhn)
3. Up and Out of Poverty by Nancy Lee and Philip Kotler (recommended by Alex Rampy)
4. Momentum by Allison Fine  (recommended by Beth Kanter)
5. Groundswell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff  (recommend by Geoff Livingston)
6. The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz (recommended by Andre Blackman)
7. Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky (recommended by Nancy Shute)
8. The Help, By Kathryn Stockett (recommended by Alex Rampy)
9. Hope Dies Last by Studs Terkel (recommended by Mike Brooks)
10. Rules for Revolutionaries by Guy Kawasaki (recommended by Amy Jussel)

Now what? Vote!

Vote on which book we’ll discuss first and I’ll announce it in a about a week what YOU chose for us all to read and chat about. In the meantime, feel free to also email me book suggestions: socialbutterfly4change@gmail.com. I’ll work on getting that page up that my mom told me about. Thanks mom. (I know she’s reading.)

flickr credit: Chocolate Geek
Book Images: Courtesy of Amazon

Tags: author, book, book club, books, online book club, read, reading, social change, social change book club, twitter

9 Comments to Love Social Change? Join us and #read4change.

James S. Walker
September 17, 2009

Hi Alex, this sounds like a great idea. I put in my vote. Looking forward to seeing what is chosen!

Andre Blackman
September 17, 2009

Fantastic!! I’ve really needed to get back reading books (as opposed to online online online). Looking forward to seeing what happens as well.

Jacque
September 17, 2009

Great idea Alex! I wonder if any schools/students have used something like this for their studies? I put in my vote and look forward to seeing the outcome.

Alex
September 18, 2009

Thanks for your interest guys! What are your thoughts–should we just use the hashtag #read4change or does it need it owns Twitter handle too?

Andre Blackman
September 18, 2009

I say snag both. In case this turns into something more than just a web list (which it quite possibly could) and then for categorizing tweets of recommendations for other books.

Andy Sternberg
September 18, 2009

I love this idea. THIS will get me back into reading books again (though I seem to have no problem buying and accumulating them).

Alex, aka SocialButterfly
September 21, 2009

Thanks Andy! And I do the same thing…the stack by my bed gets higher and higher. For me, reading books is always more fun when you can share it with someone else, and even better–share what it inspires and get feedback too. So, hopefully, this should be a fun way to do just that.

Tim Brauhn
October 12, 2009

Books are the goodness. Luckily, I carried my copy of Causewired out here to San Jose with me. It’ll be great to join in on this.

Leave a comment