Reading is Good for You AND Fun? Say less and read more with us.

Has your reading time declined? You’re not alone. A recent study in the journal iScience (Volume 28, Issue 9, 113288) found that the proportion of Americans who read for pleasure daily declined by 40% between 2003 and 2023, from 28% to 16%.

This is despite the sheer pleasure of a good book and the often overlooked actual physical and psychological benefits of reading such as:

• Reducing mortality by 20% according to a 2016 study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine found reading books can reduce mortality by up to 20%.
• A 2013 study published in “Science,” found that literary fiction, in particular, led to readers being better at understanding what other people were thinking and feeling, along with increasing their capacity for empathy.

So, if you want help living longer and being nicer, (DISCLAIMER, your mileage may vary on the longetivity thing) and maybe winning a free book, look no further than the Fundraising HayDay Book Club on Patreon at the Friends and Such level. We have heard you, and by popular demand, we’re bringing back live book clubs every quarter starting in February—stay tuned for more details!

If you join for the month of January for $10, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win one of two copies of our January pick, Vu Le’s “Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector.”

To join our book club on Patreon and enter the drawing, click HERE. If you’re already a member at that level you’re automatically enrolled in the drawing. 

You can also gift a subscription for that bookworm on your holiday giving list.

Each month, Patreon subscribers at the Friends and such level receive a recording of Amanda and I discussing that month’s pick and the opportunity to weigh in through the chat with other book lovers. If you’re not ready to commit and don’t care about winning a free book, there’s absolutely no judgement here. You can sign up for a free trial first, and then join by December 19 so that if you win, we can get the book to you for January.

Amanda and I have very different reading tastes, but we both enjoy a good tale and a well-written work of non-fiction. Here’s our eclectic list for 2026 to whet your reading appetites!

Let’s buck the trend and have a fantastic reading filled 2026! Here’s the LINK again to sign up for the drawing.

Happy Reading!