Gemeinsam Lesen (“Reading Together”) is the first study in German about reading groups as a social phenomenon and an economic force in the UK. It reflects on reading as a cultural practice and gives insight into the workings of book groups and their history. It sheds light on book groups in the context of other reader development initiatives and discusses various factors that have contributed to the popularity of the book group, devoting a chapter each to libraries, the Internet, publishers, book sellers, and the media.
See also “Zum Phänomen des Lesegruppenbooms in Grossbritannien” (featured article on Leseforum Schweiz).