don't read alone!
start a book club
HOW TO START
YOUR BOOK CLUB
To get the most out of your Bison Medicine journey, please read this book socially and meet in person to discuss your experience. While you can try to host a virtual book club, it is not recommended. You’ll want to experience this with people in your local work, alumni, career, neighborhood, or spiritual group, so that you can build and deepen mutually enriching relationships with people you’re likely to see at the market, the park, or community events. The reason for this is that belonging is just as much about bumping into people you know, like, and trust, as it is about having deep conversations about what matters most.
If you’ve participated in a book club in the past, you know the basic drill. However, please do this journey in a different manner. Most book clubs involve reading a book prior to getting together, pouring some tea or wine, and having a broad discussion about the book, exploring what about the book did or didn’t resonate with folks. Given what’s at stake and what our nation’s purpose summons us to do, a deeper marination over time is required. Please structure this journey as a series of five weekly sessions:
For each session, please begin with two agreements: (A.) one person talks at a time while the others listen with an open heart / mind, and (B.) a confidentiality agreement, inviting people to keep what others say in confidence. The purpose of these agreements is to allow people to share as openly and honestly as possible, knowing they will not be interrupted and that what they shared stays in the room. Begin by inviting folks to do a brief one-minute check-in, such as sharing a high and low moment from the last week. This allows everyone the opportunity to speak and also to get a sense of each other’s lives, to deepen connection.
After the check-in, split the group into smaller groups of 3-4 people to discuss the prompts at the end of the assigned parts for 20-30 minutes. Then have a discussion in the larger group around what people found surprising, moving, and/or took issue with. Then end each session with a brief check-out about what you are leaving with (e.g, a feeling or a thought, and what’s one new action you will take: activate my purpose, launch a Bison Medicine journey with another group in your life, book a trip to Yellowstone to see the bison, etc.).
If you think it’s unlikely that your folks can meet for five weeks in a row, you can also do a three-session 90-minute format (e.g., week one: through Part 3, week two: Parts 4-7, and week three: Part 8 through the Appendices). If three sessions even feels like a stretch, then you can do just one 120-minute session, but please follow the same format above, assigning different parts to each small group (e.g., group A does up to Part 3, group B does Parts 4-7, and group C does Part 8 through the Appendices). In the general discussion after the small group discussions, please allocate equal time for each small group to share what they found surprising, moving, and/or took issue with, and end with a check-out (feeling or thought and a new action).
Once you have a sense of the structure that you’d like to use, invite people to join you on the journey. This is the most important part of the experience. If the invitation isn’t extended with care, it is unlikely anyone will say “yes.” To prepare an invitation with care, begin by writing out a list of 4-12 people within one of your local alumni, career, work, neighborhood, or spiritual groups that you most want to connect with around this material. They can be people you enjoy, respect, and admire already. They can be people you don’t know well and want to get to know better. They can be people who have influence. But what’s most important is that they already are a part of a single group together. This ensures that the transformation you all will experience on this journey can be maintained through your group’s existing relationships and cadence of gatherings.
To prepare the invitations, for each person you want to invite, write their name, one thing about them that you appreciate (e.g,. they are a great parent, open-minded, make you feel seen, are a great friend, etc.) and why you think they would add value to the book club experience (e.g., they have a background in economics, are a local leader, ask great questions, travel extensively, have a deep spiritual practice, etc.) Take a moment to complete the form below so you have a general idea of what the experience could be like and who you want to be involved.
Name of the experience (e.g., Bison Medicine Book Club, Radical Republicans Book Club, Hippy Brain Food, The Learning Lawyers, Ladies Who Lead, Concerned Citizens Collective, Bold Baptists Book Club, Awesome Accountants Book Club, etc.)
_____________________________________
Name of the existing group that they are all a part of (e.g., local family, neighbors, church friends, coworkers, etc.)
_____________________________________
Number of planned sessions (1-5)
_____________________________________
Duration of each session (60-120 minutes)
_____________________________________
Location (e.g., my home, a local park, 2nd floor conference room, etc.)
_____________________________________
Participant names, what you admire about them, and what unique value they bring:
Instead, invite each person on your list to join you for lunch, a cup of coffee, or a hike in a park and at a time when you both won’t feel rushed. Let them know that you want to catch up, that you are starting a unique book club and want to ask their opinion about it, so that they know you have an intention beyond just catching up. If you know you’re going to see them at a gathering, ask them to connect privately 1:1 about your book club. If you don’t know when you’re going to see them next, send them a brief note (e.g., “I’d love to catch up 1:1 and pick your brain about a unique book club I’m launching. When is good for a cup of coffee?”).
When you see them at the agreed upon time and place, greet them, thank them for taking time to connect and share their perspective on the book club. Take between 10-20 minutes to catch up, being sure to share at least one thing you’re finding challenging in your life and one thing you find inspiring or joyful, before you turn the conversation to the book club. The deeper and more real your check-in, the more connected they’ll feel to you and more likely they will be to join you on the journey.
The most important thing for them to feel after being connected with you is that they understand that you like them and want to connect more with them – so share what it is about them that you respect, admire, or appreciate and why you thought of them for this book club (e.g., “I really enjoy your wisdom about current affairs and that you always seem to share your perspective in a kind and considerate way”, “I love how well-read you are, and think your understanding of our local ecology would add a great deal of value to this book club”, etc.).
Then share with them how you discovered this book, the main ideas of the book, and the experience you’re envisioning (e.g., “I heard the author speak on a podcast and knew that I wanted to read this with some of my favorite people. So, of course, I thought of you. The book explores three key ideas. The first is that we have a beautiful national purpose that can be realized if we understand what it means and what science tells us about how to fulfill it. The second idea is that we have a majestic National Mammal, the bison, whose behavior is a better match for our nation’s purpose than the bald eagle, and that it provides us with ethical guidance to fulfill our nation’s purpose. The final point of the book is that each person can live their best life and fulfill our shared purpose, by activating a sense of purpose and belonging. At the end of each part, there are three thought provoking prompts that will make for a rich discussion. I’m envisioning reading this book together over the course of five weeks, where we’d meet to discuss a few parts a week at my house. I was wondering what you think of this idea, if you’d like to participate, and who else you think would be fun to invite.”)
As they share their feedback, take note of it, and thank them. Then ask if there is anything that would make this a more compelling invitation. If their suggestions resonate with you, agree with them, and again ask them if they’d like to participate. If you have questions, need support, have ideas to share, or just want to celebrate a win, please send us a note below!
Once you've completed the book journey consider activating Bison Medicine in your life, career, and community with a group purpose journey.
If you’ve participated in a book club in the past, you know the basic drill. However, please do this journey in a different manner. Most book clubs involve reading a book prior to getting together, pouring some tea or wine, and having a broad discussion about the book, exploring what about the book did or didn’t resonate with folks. Given what’s at stake and what our nation’s purpose summons us to do, a deeper marination over time is required. Please structure this journey as a series of five weekly sessions:
- Week 1: Up through Part 1
- Week 2: Parts 2 and 3
- Week 3: Parts 4 and 5
- Week 4: Parts 6, 7 and 8
- Week 5: Part 9, Conclusion, and Appendices
For each session, please begin with two agreements: (A.) one person talks at a time while the others listen with an open heart / mind, and (B.) a confidentiality agreement, inviting people to keep what others say in confidence. The purpose of these agreements is to allow people to share as openly and honestly as possible, knowing they will not be interrupted and that what they shared stays in the room. Begin by inviting folks to do a brief one-minute check-in, such as sharing a high and low moment from the last week. This allows everyone the opportunity to speak and also to get a sense of each other’s lives, to deepen connection.
After the check-in, split the group into smaller groups of 3-4 people to discuss the prompts at the end of the assigned parts for 20-30 minutes. Then have a discussion in the larger group around what people found surprising, moving, and/or took issue with. Then end each session with a brief check-out about what you are leaving with (e.g, a feeling or a thought, and what’s one new action you will take: activate my purpose, launch a Bison Medicine journey with another group in your life, book a trip to Yellowstone to see the bison, etc.).
If you think it’s unlikely that your folks can meet for five weeks in a row, you can also do a three-session 90-minute format (e.g., week one: through Part 3, week two: Parts 4-7, and week three: Part 8 through the Appendices). If three sessions even feels like a stretch, then you can do just one 120-minute session, but please follow the same format above, assigning different parts to each small group (e.g., group A does up to Part 3, group B does Parts 4-7, and group C does Part 8 through the Appendices). In the general discussion after the small group discussions, please allocate equal time for each small group to share what they found surprising, moving, and/or took issue with, and end with a check-out (feeling or thought and a new action).
Once you have a sense of the structure that you’d like to use, invite people to join you on the journey. This is the most important part of the experience. If the invitation isn’t extended with care, it is unlikely anyone will say “yes.” To prepare an invitation with care, begin by writing out a list of 4-12 people within one of your local alumni, career, work, neighborhood, or spiritual groups that you most want to connect with around this material. They can be people you enjoy, respect, and admire already. They can be people you don’t know well and want to get to know better. They can be people who have influence. But what’s most important is that they already are a part of a single group together. This ensures that the transformation you all will experience on this journey can be maintained through your group’s existing relationships and cadence of gatherings.
To prepare the invitations, for each person you want to invite, write their name, one thing about them that you appreciate (e.g,. they are a great parent, open-minded, make you feel seen, are a great friend, etc.) and why you think they would add value to the book club experience (e.g., they have a background in economics, are a local leader, ask great questions, travel extensively, have a deep spiritual practice, etc.) Take a moment to complete the form below so you have a general idea of what the experience could be like and who you want to be involved.
Name of the experience (e.g., Bison Medicine Book Club, Radical Republicans Book Club, Hippy Brain Food, The Learning Lawyers, Ladies Who Lead, Concerned Citizens Collective, Bold Baptists Book Club, Awesome Accountants Book Club, etc.)
_____________________________________
Name of the existing group that they are all a part of (e.g., local family, neighbors, church friends, coworkers, etc.)
_____________________________________
Number of planned sessions (1-5)
_____________________________________
Duration of each session (60-120 minutes)
_____________________________________
Location (e.g., my home, a local park, 2nd floor conference room, etc.)
_____________________________________
Participant names, what you admire about them, and what unique value they bring:
- ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
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Instead, invite each person on your list to join you for lunch, a cup of coffee, or a hike in a park and at a time when you both won’t feel rushed. Let them know that you want to catch up, that you are starting a unique book club and want to ask their opinion about it, so that they know you have an intention beyond just catching up. If you know you’re going to see them at a gathering, ask them to connect privately 1:1 about your book club. If you don’t know when you’re going to see them next, send them a brief note (e.g., “I’d love to catch up 1:1 and pick your brain about a unique book club I’m launching. When is good for a cup of coffee?”).
When you see them at the agreed upon time and place, greet them, thank them for taking time to connect and share their perspective on the book club. Take between 10-20 minutes to catch up, being sure to share at least one thing you’re finding challenging in your life and one thing you find inspiring or joyful, before you turn the conversation to the book club. The deeper and more real your check-in, the more connected they’ll feel to you and more likely they will be to join you on the journey.
The most important thing for them to feel after being connected with you is that they understand that you like them and want to connect more with them – so share what it is about them that you respect, admire, or appreciate and why you thought of them for this book club (e.g., “I really enjoy your wisdom about current affairs and that you always seem to share your perspective in a kind and considerate way”, “I love how well-read you are, and think your understanding of our local ecology would add a great deal of value to this book club”, etc.).
Then share with them how you discovered this book, the main ideas of the book, and the experience you’re envisioning (e.g., “I heard the author speak on a podcast and knew that I wanted to read this with some of my favorite people. So, of course, I thought of you. The book explores three key ideas. The first is that we have a beautiful national purpose that can be realized if we understand what it means and what science tells us about how to fulfill it. The second idea is that we have a majestic National Mammal, the bison, whose behavior is a better match for our nation’s purpose than the bald eagle, and that it provides us with ethical guidance to fulfill our nation’s purpose. The final point of the book is that each person can live their best life and fulfill our shared purpose, by activating a sense of purpose and belonging. At the end of each part, there are three thought provoking prompts that will make for a rich discussion. I’m envisioning reading this book together over the course of five weeks, where we’d meet to discuss a few parts a week at my house. I was wondering what you think of this idea, if you’d like to participate, and who else you think would be fun to invite.”)
As they share their feedback, take note of it, and thank them. Then ask if there is anything that would make this a more compelling invitation. If their suggestions resonate with you, agree with them, and again ask them if they’d like to participate. If you have questions, need support, have ideas to share, or just want to celebrate a win, please send us a note below!
Once you've completed the book journey consider activating Bison Medicine in your life, career, and community with a group purpose journey.
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The Symbol
The Bison Medicine symbol contains three red stripes and three white stars that represent the three levels of a democracy (idea, political economy, and spiritual practice) that are required for democracy to be realized. Idea: Above all else, we believe and ensure that all are created equal. Political economy: We secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Spiritual practice: We love each other as much as ourselves - E Pluribus Unum. The perimeter circle evokes the wholeness, flourishing, connection, and homecoming that we will all experience when we activate our purpose in true community and allow Bison Medicine to heal, guide, and enliven us. |
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