Click to return to the current issue . Say you're having a nice evening in with a group of friends, sitting on the couch, discussing a great book you've all just read. And this interloper is here to tell you so. The lunatics are running the asylum. These two scenarios illustrate why some book groups wouldn't be caught dead with a professional group leader, and why others wouldn't meet without one.
All book groups like to have a leader for each discussion.
A greater number are led by alternating members of the group, who probably don't apply that kind of vocabulary when thinking of their groups. There are pros and cons to using a pro, and in the final analysis, what is best for your group depends mainly on the makeup and priorities of the group. A PRO Joining a group with a professional facilitator practiced in initiating and focusing discussions can make reading a book a more rigorous experience, aiding comprehension and appreciation. But the best facilitators do much more than teach the books. They are instrumental in encouraging teamwork, selecting books that lend themselves to group interaction and making sure that one person doesn't dominate and that discussion doesn't digress into gossip or irrelevant personal matters.