The prevalence of book clubs seems to be on the rise, with notable figures like Dua Lipa, Morgann Book, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah leading the trend. Beyond the usual circles, professional athletes are also embracing book clubs as a way to connect with their teammates.
In the NBA, San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes are actively promoting a book club within their team, aiming to involve more members, as shown in a video on the league’s YouTube channel. Meanwhile, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks have their own book club, with players like Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Ty Dellandrea participating. It has become a humorous mystery among the Sharks as they keep their reading selections under wraps.
Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, including teams like the Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Toronto Tempo, and New York Liberty, have also formed book clubs as a means of bonding. Toronto Sceptres forward Claire Dalton highlighted the team’s love for reading, indicating that the book club has seamlessly transitioned from Montreal to Toronto.
The Sceptres’ book club, initiated by Dalton and goalie Raygan Kirk, gathers over coffee to discuss books sourced from Google and Reddit. Their reading list includes titles like “Gone Before Goodbye,” “The Heir Apparent,” and “Palm Villa.” During the regular season, around 15 players actively participated in the club.
Similarly, the Toronto Tempo’s book club was inspired by guard Kia Nurse and teammate Nyara Sabally, with six to seven players eagerly joining in the literary discussions. As a new addition to the WNBA, the Tempo team leverages activities like the book club to foster off-court camaraderie, crucial for their cohesion as a newly formed squad.
Nurse emphasized the value of books as an escape for athletes, providing a refreshing perspective beyond the pressures of sports. The impact of these book clubs extends beyond the teams, with social media interest and community engagement initiatives, like the Sceptres’ collaboration with The Children’s Book Bank, showcasing the positive influence of reading and collective learning experiences.