Leaders are readers.
Ever hear that?
These days, we could probably rework the quote to say “Good leaders are curious, life-long learners” as there are way more types of media to consume than just written books.
But while reading is a solitary pursuit, book clubs are like networking for people who enjoy discussing new ideas. They entice readers to deepen relationships, spark ideas, and build community.
Launching a book club under your chamber banner offers a fresh way to engage members, encourage learning and connection, and reinforce your chamber’s value-add.
Here are the essentials you need to know before launching one, plus what works for other chambers, creative theme ideas, and a list of books to start with.
What You Need to Know Before You Launch a Chamber Book Club
Define the Audience and Purpose
Are you inviting all members? Or focusing on a subset (e.g., young professionals, leadership group, women business owners)? The Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Mastermind Book Club is aimed at business growth and networking among its members: “review the best-selling business books of today. You will build business savvy and sharpen your skills…”
Be clear: Is the club about professional development, community read & discussion, leadership growth, or just networking over a good book (and possibly wine)?
Determine Format, Cadence, and Logistics
- How often will you meet? Monthly? Bi-monthly? The Austin Area Chamber of Commerce (MN) Leadership Reads Book Club meets every third Friday of the month at 7:15 a.m. for discussion of leadership/personal growth books.
- Location: On-site at your chamber, in a member’s space, virtual, hybrid?
- Time: Morning (before work), lunch hour, or evening?
- Moderation: Will you have a facilitator? Rotate member-facilitators?
- Book selection: How will titles be chosen? A vote? Committee?
- Cost: Free? Modest fee to offset refreshments or book copies?
Promote and Manage Member Engagement
How do you market it? You can use the same platforms you do for your events like your email newsletter, social channels, and personal invites. But don’t just send your reminders. Instead, add reading prompts two weeks ahead of time, interviews with the author, or other things that will not only remind people of the event but also get them excited and interested in the book. This can be particularly helpful to people who haven’t started it as it can renew their curiosity in the book.
Tie It to Chamber Value
Ensure the book club isn’t just an add-on but has clear tie-backs to your chamber’s mission: professional development, leadership, community building. Highlight how the club helps members with business growth, thought leadership, or peer networking. For example, the Cobb Chamber describes its book club as “a networking group for Chamber members to learn business principles, promote their business, and grow professionally.”
Budget and Sponsorship Considerations
You can create a “reading package” sponsor (book discounts, local bookstore tie-in). You could also give your local library a heads-up on what you’re reading for the year. They may be willing to set a few copies aside for you. Some book clubs meet at local wineries/breweries/distilleries so there’s another opportunity for sponsorships or in-kind donations of event space. You could also charge a nominal fee for non-members as a recruitment tool.
How to Make Your Book Club Successful
Keep these things in mind when launching your club and it will become invaluable to your members and their professional growth. While a book club won’t take the place of your leadership program, it is an excellent professional growth opportunity for people who can’t spare the time to be a part Leadership.
If you don’t currently have a chamber leadership program, a book club can be a good way to test the waters about whether your chamber has enough interested intellectually curious people.
Create Community
A thriving book club becomes a peer-network first, book discussion second. Start each meeting with a quick networking prompt (e.g., “what is one business challenge I’m trying to solve this quarter?” or a celebration of something they’ve succeeded in), then dive into the book discussion.
Keep Discussions Focused but Flexible
You might start with standard questions (e.g., “What surprised you?”, “What will you apply tomorrow?”), but allow space for members to share business/leadership take-aways. Invite members to bring real-world examples and don’t shy away from debate. A book may offer some advice that members disagree with. Encourage them to share their experiences.
Celebrate and Spotlight Participation
Feature book club participants in your newsletter or website. Offer a “Book Club Member of the Month” highlight. Recognize attendance milestones or contributions. Post book questions on your Facebook page. Continue the discussion there. You may have members who are curious and seeing what you’re talking about might spur them into joining your next meeting.
Link the Reading to Growth
Encourage members to share a small action or behavior change inspired by the book that they’re planning on implementing. At the next meeting, begin with “What did you try?” This builds accountability and real-world value.
Mix Formats and Guest Speakers
From time to time, invite the author (virtually) or a local business leader to discuss the book’s themes. Or switch up the format: breakfast meeting, lunch & learn, walking/talking book club outdoors, or “book chat” over dinner. More people will be able to attend if you vary the times. However, it’s important to poll your stalwarts before switching it up. You don’t want to alienate them just to placate people who might come.
Make It Accessible
Offer options: physical copy, ebook, audiobook. Consider offering a “lite version” for busy executives (e.g., 20-minute video summary or highlights). The Menomonie Area Chamber & Visitor Center’s Professional Book Club included video recommendations alongside reading assignments.
Measure and Iterate
Track member-satisfaction, how many attend subsequent events, and whether members perceive benefit. Adjust meeting times, book selections, or format based on feedback.
Possible Themes for Your Chamber Book Club
How do you decide what to read? You can select an overall theme for your club and choose books that reflect that theme (or pick an annual or quarterly theme and rotate). You can also nominate a person at each meeting (or ask for volunteers) to select next month’s read, or the entire group present can vote on it.
Here are a few theme ideas:
- Leadership in Action. Books on leadership, decision-making, influence.
- Business Growth & Innovation. How businesses scale, adapt, disrupt.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Encouraging inclusive leadership and community-minded business practices.
- Community Building & Purpose-Driven Business. Books that explore how business can serve the community, not just profit.
- Future of Work & Digital Transformation. Technology, remote work, agility, and other trending topics.
- Local Legends & Entrepreneur Stories. Highlighting local business founders or regional economic history. Invite the author or local entrepreneur for Q&A.
- Well-being & Resilience. Business leaders deal with stress; books on resilience, work-life integration, mental health, etc.
- Book to Audio/Podcast Hybrid. Offer the book and the corresponding podcast/author interview to mix mediums and enjoy flexibility.
- Community Read-and-Share. Open the club to broader community (not just members) for one quarter, pick a book about your city or region, and conclude with a public event or panel.
Themes are a good start to finding the right books but what else should you consider?
How to Pick the Right Books for Your Chamber Book Club
1. Start with your “why.”
Every chamber book club should tie back to a goal. Are you building better leaders? Fostering community connection? Encouraging entrepreneurship?
- If your purpose is leadership development, go for books that build soft skills, such as Dare to Lead (Brené Brown) or The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey).
- If your purpose is business innovation, choose titles like Atomic Habits (James Clear) or Think Again (Adam Grant).
- For community-building and purpose-driven discussions, try The Go-Giver (Bob Burg) or Everybody Matters (Bob Chapman).
When you match the theme to the chamber’s mission, the club feels like a strategic initiative, not just a social one.
2. Mix inspiration with implementation.
The most successful clubs balance books that inspire with those that equip. Pair a big-idea title one month (Start with Why by Simon Sinek) with a practical follow-up (Traction by Gino Wickman or The One Thing by Gary Keller). Members get the best of both worlds: motivation and actionable takeaways.
3. Survey your members.
Let your audience shape the list. Create a quick poll asking what members want: personal growth, management, marketing, community, or work-life topics. You can even crowdsource titles quarterly and let members vote creating investment before the first page is turned.
4. Rotate themes.
Variety keeps people coming back. One quarter could be “Leadership & Legacy,” the next “Innovation & Adaptability,” then “Women in Business” or “Community Changemakers.”
For example, the Cobb Chamber Mastermind Book Club rotates business and leadership books that align with current economic or professional trends, keeping content fresh and relevant.
5. Look local.
Don’t underestimate hometown stories. Invite local authors, entrepreneurs, or leaders to share books they’ve written or that inspired them. This adds a “shop local” layer to your club and might even attract new chamber members from the creative community.
6. Choose books that spark conversation, not consensus.
You want differing opinions, not uniform nodding. Books with gray areas—ethical dilemmas, bold ideas, or practical challenges—create more dynamic dialogue, such as The Infinite Game (Simon Sinek).
7. Keep the length and density realistic.
Busy business owners don’t want a lot of homework. Stick to a maximum of 300 pages (most business books are under this page count anyway), or supplement long reads with summaries, podcasts, or video recaps. (Tools like Blinkist or YouTube author talks can help.) For heavier books, break reading into two meetings so no one falls behind.
8. Curate with intention, not impulse.
You’ll get recommendations from everywhere, but that doesn’t mean they’re a fit. Before finalizing a title, ask:
- Does this book align with our chamber’s brand and tone?
- Will it resonate with diverse industries and demographics?
- Does it encourage reflection or skill-building that applies across business types?
If not, keep looking.
9. Partner with local experts or sponsors.
Ask your college’s business department or a member life coach to suggest titles. A local bookstore could even co-curate a “Chamber Picks Shelf.” Sponsors love this visibility, and it saves you time.
10. Plan a “pilot list.”
When first launching, create a starter list of 4–6 books to cover the first year. That gives structure, predictability, and promotion opportunities (“Join the Chamber Book Club—this year we’re reading…”)
Here are some popular leadership reads to choose from:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
A modern classic on how small, consistent actions lead to extraordinary outcomes. Perfect for entrepreneurs and professionals who want to turn intentions into measurable progress.
The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann
An uplifting story about how generosity and authenticity drive business success—mirroring what chambers do best: building community through connection.
Think Again by Adam Grant
Encourages leaders and teams to challenge assumptions and embrace curiosity. Ideal for chambers promoting innovation and adaptability among members.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Courage, vulnerability, and leadership at its most human. A catalyst for deeper discussions about authenticity in business and life.
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Explores how trust and empathy create thriving organizations. A powerful read for leadership programs and executive roundtables.
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Shifts perspective from short-term wins to long-term purpose, aligning perfectly with the chamber mission of sustained community growth.
The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman & Paul White
A quick, practical read that strengthens workplace culture and retention through authentic recognition.
The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey & Jim Huling
A guide to achieving focus and accountability in teams, a valuable resource for both chambers and their member businesses.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
A staple for any organization that wants to rediscover its purpose and inspire through mission-driven storytelling.
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler
Essential tools for handling high-stakes discussions with confidence and respect. It’s useful in business and advocacy settings.
The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
Shows how positivity fuels productivity, creativity, and success. A morale-booster that reinforces the link between mindset and performance.
The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
A focused, actionable roadmap for simplifying priorities and achieving meaningful results. It’s a great book to close a cycle or reset for a new one.
Bonus Tip: Choose books that pair with events.
If your chamber has an upcoming leadership summit or women’s conference, align a book that reinforces those themes. For example:
- Before your Women’s Leadership Conference, choose How Women Rise (Sally Helgesen) or Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
- Before your Economic Forecast, read The Next Rules of Work (Gary Bolles).
It’s a subtle way to cross-promote programming.
For your chamber, a book club can be more than a nice-to-have. It can become a signature offering that differentiates you, deepens member engagement, and creates meaningful professional development. As you roll it out, stay focused on value (not just the book), structure it for consistent engagement, and tie it back to your mission of supporting business and community.
