Online book clubs can be a rewarding way to connect with readers, Lindsay Chervinsky discovered, when she was invited to join one to discuss her book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution.
Since my book was published in April 2020, I’ve discovered that my work appeals to three main audiences. First, the general readers who are enthusiastic about history, attend virtual events, and tend to support local historic sites. Second, readers who are curious about our government institutions and the current political climate and are looking for answers about its origins. And third, history, social studies, and government teachers.
I love speaking to all of these audiences, but talking with teachers is especially meaningful. I had a couple of really wonderful history teachers, and while I don’t have the skills or patience to teach middle and high schoolers, working with teachers allows me to feel like I’m giving back in some small way. Additionally, teachers approach the history differently than my peers in academia or general readers. They are particularly interested in themes that will resonate and interest their students. By revisiting my work through their eyes, I often reach new conclusions and better hone my own arguments.
So when I was invited to participate in an online book club chat (#sschatreads), I jumped at the opportunity. Because of the burdens of online teaching and the holidays, we decided to split the chat up into two sessions, December 12 and January 16. Here’s how it worked. The hosts, Dr. Dennis Urban, Kathryn Kennedy, and Isabel Morales, announced the chats several weeks ahead of time and regularly publicized it on Twitter. A few days before the chat, Dr. Urban sent me a few questions that he planned to post. Some of the questions were general discussion questions and some were directly for me.
Once the chat began, Dr. Urban posted a new question roughly every 5-10 minutes. The participants responded to the questions, discussed with each other, and asked me additional questions. I answered as many questions as I could find, amplified other answers, and voiced my agreement with insightful points. The spontaneous questions largely focused on what lessons we can learn today from Washington and his cabinet, contemporary politics and government, and the role of military experience in the presidency (which had a lot to do with the current news and a recent thread I wrote on the subject).
The hour absolutely flew by and I had such a great time tweeting with the participants! The Twitter chat forum was a great way to interact with a lot of new readers in a relatively low-stakes environment. I was in pajamas on my couch, safely tucked away from the threat of COVID-19, and teachers didn’t have to spend yet another hour on Zoom. I would enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to participate in additional online book clubs, both during the pandemic and after it finally ends. I would also encourage other scholars to seek out similar opportunities. I think they will find sharing their work with teachers incredibly rewarding and a valuable use of an hour.
I’m really looking forward to part two of the discussion. We are planning to discuss the rest of the book and also President-elect Biden’s cabinet nominees, which should make for an interesting and robust conversation! If you’d like to join us, follow me on Twitter @lmchervinsky, as well as @DRUrbanTeacher and @maineteacher for updates and questions. You can also catch up on the first chat session and their past book club conversations. If you purchased the book, you can submit your information for a personalized book plate (an offer I extended to the teachers as well). Hope to see you there!