Question about how book clubs changed after going virtual in 2020

My book club met at a coffee shop in Brooklyn every month for 5 years. Then COVID hit and we moved to Zoom. Now in 2025, we still meet online because half the members moved away. The debate is whether the quality of discussion got better or worse. Before, people showed up more prepared and we had deeper talks. Now, more people attend but half are multitasking and the convo gets shallow. Has your club seen a similar shift in participation vs depth since going remote?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamie_white21d ago

The multitaskers are honestly the MVPs of killing a book club's vibe. Nothing says "I respect the discussion" like someone clearly folding laundry or typing up work emails while the group tries to analyze a plot twist. At least back in the coffee shop days, you had to physically be there or pretend to order a latte to hide your lack of preparation. Now you can just mute yourself and hope no one asks for your opinion on chapter 7.

emery_young1321d ago

Used to think in-person was the only way to have real discussions, but this post actually changed my mind. Your point about multitasking is the real issue, not the platform. In my club, the ones who dial in from their car or while cooking definitely drag the convo down. But we also got a few new members who moved away and would've left entirely without Zoom. So the depth dropped some, but we kept the group alive, and that trade off feels worth it now.

lindaowens21d ago

Oh man, it's like the same thing I've noticed with everything going virtual. My yoga class is the same way - way more people show up online but half are just laying there or checking their phones. Feels like we traded genuine focus for convenience across the board.