How It Works?
1. Sign up your club: Members of your Amnesty Book Club can be friends, classmates, family, a local community organization, or even an existing book club. Fill out our sign-up form.
2. Read a book: Select a book for your group to read from the Amnesty International’s Book Club’s list of recommendations. Read, enjoy, and discuss it.
3. Take action: Help those in need by taking an action to defend human rights. Each book has an action component to it, but you can also visit our website for more.
4. Share your story: After you’ve finished your project, tell us about it. By sharing your experience, you will inspire more good deeds across the country and around the world!
What Is Provided?
Amnesty International Book Club provides:
- Book list that are about human experience.
- A fantastic discussion guide, where we explore themes and how they apply to the real world
- Amnesty actions in our guides
- Live webinars bring authors and readers together
- Podcast episodes featuring incredible writers
- Subscribe to our newsletter for book club news
- Printed copies of the Discussion Guides are also available if requested.
- Volunteer opportunities
- Online community to share stories, ideas, and experiences
Who should be in my Amnesty Book Club?
Amnesty Book Club can take many different forms and sizes. You can include kids, adults, or both! Here are a few examples of where you might find members to make up your club:
- Existing book clubs
- School classrooms
- Sports teams
- Family
- Friends
- Coworkers
- Religious groups
- Civic groups
- Neighbours
How can my existing book club participate?
Amnesty Book Club is perfect for existing book clubs! By signing up and taking action to defend human rights, you will add another layer of meaning to your club and make a difference in your community.
How do we get the books we want to read?
There are several different ways to get books for your Amnesty Book Club:
- Talk to your local public or school librarian about requesting enough copies for your group
- Get an online version of the book, if possible
- Ask your local independent bookstore if they would be willing to donate books to your group or offer a discount
- Check out used books sold online at places like Book Outlet
- Share a few copies of the book among the members of your group
- Buy one copy and meet to read it aloud. This works beautifully in elementary school classrooms!
How do I share news about our Amnesty Book Club activity?
We can’t wait to hear about your Amnesty International Book Club adventures. Please share your Amnesty Book Club story with us. Using the information you provide, we will highlight Amnesty Book Club activities on our website, social media and e-newsletter. Sign up to receive it here.
In addition, you can contact your local newspaper, radio stations, and TV stations to share your Amnesty Book Club experience. They may want to talk to your group—and you may start a chain reaction of human rights action.
I’m afraid I won’t have time to read the book. Is that OK?
Don’t let your busy schedule get in the way of joining an Amnesty Book Club. Try to read the book in its entirety. If that’s not possible, read what you can and attend your group’s meeting to learn more about the book, enjoy the discussion, and take part in defending human rights.
Does every Amnesty Book Club read books on the same theme at the same time?
We pick up six books per year (One book each two months), but if our theme doesn’t resonate with your Amnesty Book Club, we invite you to choose one that is more fitting to your group and community.