# Book Sprint

> A Book Sprint is a short-lived book club built around a single subject. The group agrees on the books and the schedule up front, meets along the way, and disbands after the last conversation. Tagline: "A book club with a finish line." Created by Stan Wilson Jr (https://stanwilsonjr.com).

## What it is

- One topic: anything worth understanding from more than one angle (strategy, cities, grief, design, the history of money).
- A fixed set of books, chosen before you start.
- An agreed timeline: everyone commits to the same calendar; no open-ended membership.
- A real ending: the last meeting is the last meeting. Want another? Start a new sprint.

## Why it exists

Reading alone leaves ideas untested. Traditional book clubs are open-ended, so many people never join. A Book Sprint keeps the conversation of a book club and adds a clear end date.

## How to start one (five steps)

1. Choose a topic you want to understand better, not just read about.
2. Build the reading list: a handful of books that come at the topic from different directions, ideally a few that disagree.
3. Gather your group: people curious about the same thing, who agree to the list and calendar before day one.
4. Read and meet on a regular rhythm. Missed a book? Come anyway.
5. Finish: hold the last conversation, say what changed your mind, and call it done.

## Suggested defaults

- Length: 5 books over 5 months (or one book over a few weeks)
- Meeting frequency: monthly, one book per meeting (or weekly, a section at a time)
- Group size: 4–8 people
- Ending: one shared takeaway page

## Example: a Book Sprint on strategy

Five books, five monthly meetings, six people, one finish date.

1. The Art of War — Sun Tzu
2. Good Strategy Bad Strategy — Richard Rumelt
3. Playing to Win — A.G. Lafley & Roger Martin
4. 7 Powers — Hamilton Helmer
5. Thinking in Bets — Annie Duke

## FAQ

- Do I need to be an expert to start one? No. You need a topic you're curious about and a reading list.
- What if someone falls behind? They still come; hearing the discussion is often the push to catch up.
- Can we meet online? Yes. In person, video call, or a mix.
- What happens when it's over? It's over. Start a new sprint on a new topic if the group wants more.
- Can it be just one book? Yes. A single book read in sections over a few weeks is a perfectly good sprint.

## Links

- Home: https://booksprint.club/