Saw the before and after on my book club's reading list after we dropped 'classics only'

We had this rule for like 2 years. Only books published before 1980. Felt all intellectual and stuff. Then Sarah brought up how our debates got stale. Same themes, same arguments about Victorian morals. So we voted to open it up to anything published after 2000. First book was 'The Book of Form and Emptiness' from 2021. Night and day difference. People who never spoke started talking. Arguments got heated in a good way. We went from 4 people dominating to 12 people actually debating. Its been 6 months now. Has anyone else's club switched up their genre or era rules? What changed for you guys?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot453d ago

It fits a bigger pattern I've noticed in real life too, where old habits can turn into blind spots that keep you from seeing fresh angles. Getting stuck in one lane limits the conversation, even if it feels comfortable at first.

faithwalker2d ago

Tell me about it. Had to learn the hard way that my way isn't the only way.

jake_owens2d ago

Man, you hit the nail on the head with that one. It's way too easy to fall into the same old routines and just assume that's how things have to be. Comfortable ruts are still ruts, and they can really box you in without you even noticing. I've definitely been there, stuck in a loop where I couldn't see the forest for the trees. It takes a real conscious effort to step back and shake things up.