The Villanova University Alumni Association has partnered with PBC Guru to create a virtual book club for Villanova alumni and friends. Selected books will span a variety of genres and topics, from memoirs to personal development. The book club will connect through a private forum where all participants can discuss the current book, access relevant articles and network with each other. Joining is completely free—all you need is a copy of the book to enjoy. The book club will read one book every two months, but you don’t need to commit to reading every book to join.

Why should I join the book club?

1. Connect with Fellow Villanovans: Our book club is a great way to engage with Villanovans you might not have otherwise met based on class year, geography or career industry.
2. Embrace Lifelong Learning: Our book club allows you to explore a variety of topics, gain new insights and learn from fellow participants in a respectful environment.
3. Advance Your Career: The books you read may increase your effectiveness in leadership, communication, and productivity, while the network you build may help you with career advice, introduce you to new people and find your next job.
4. Reading is Good for You: Reading can reduce stress, help you sleep better, and improve your relationships [1]. Did we mention it also makes you smarter? Reading increases your verbal intelligence, your emotional intelligence, and your creativity [2].

How often will books be read, what is the time commitment and what are the expectations?

We plan to start the book club by reading one book every two months. Most books will take an average of nine hours to read cover to cover. If you have between one and two hours a week you should have no problem participating in discussions and completing the book within the timeframe. By joining the virtual book club, you are not committing to reading every book. You have the flexibility to read each book and join the discussion based on your interest and your schedule.

Will there be any in-person meetings of the book club?

No, the book club will be entirely online. You can participate anywhere with Internet access and whenever is convenient to you.

Is there any cost to participate?

Participation is free for Villanova University alumni and friends as a benefit through the Villanova University Alumni Association. You are responsible only for obtaining a copy of the book.

How do I get the books?

Check out your local library or bookstore, order online, or even listen via audio – whichever you prefer!

How do book club discussions work?

The book club will have a moderator from PBC Guru who manages the forum. The moderator will pose questions to the book club, share relevant articles and facilitate conversation about topics in the book. Members will be encouraged to post and share as well. This format allows for ongoing conversation and makes it easy for readers to connect with each other through the forum.

How do I make a forum profile?

We're using a private forum to host the virtual book club so it's easy to connect with fellow participants. During our sign up process, you will enter the information to auto-generate your free profile. After you complete the sign up, we'll send you a link to the forum and you can begin to post right away!

What exactly is PBC Guru and what do they have to do with the book club?

Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru is a book club management company that works with businesses, alumni associations and professional societies. The Villanova University Alumni Association is teaming up with PBC to put this program in place for Villanovans. You can check out their website at www.pbc.guru if you want to see more of what they do.

I've already signed up. How do I log in?

If you are already a member, you can click here to log in.

What if my question isn't answered?

For programmatic questions please email the Villanova University Alumni Association at alumni@villanova.edu. For technical issues please email PBC Guru at info@pbc.guru.