The Silent Book Club is a student organization at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) that aims to provide students of all personality types and majors the opportunity to rediscover their love for reading in the middle of the often-hectic college environment. It particularly acts as a safe space for introverted and stressed members since there is no obligation to socially interact or study the reading material.
With only classical music playing in the background, the silent sessions are intended to be calming and peaceful, according to junior microbiology major, Mariana Silva, who serves as the vice president
The organization uses an introvert friendly approach to assist those who feel overwhelmed by classes or the high-energy campus scene.
“It’s nice to be somewhere and just read in comfortable silence around others, kind of enjoying the same thing,” Silva said. “I think the club is really good for introverts who want to have a sense of community without feeling pressured to meet new people and be thrown into icebreakers and things like that. There is also not any pressure to be like, ‘Oh, what is your opinion on this book?’ or ‘Let’s all get in a circle and say what we’re thinking.’”
The organization’s “quiet time” component is also meant to serve as a stress reliever and allow members to escape from the “academic homework” feeling.
“Our silent sessions are definitely that kind of zen moment for a lot of people, especially for me because I’m super busy with classes,” Silva said. “It’s nice to commit an hour to a very non-chaotic hobby. A lot of joy can be taken away by grades and deadlines, and the club is really just to foster a joy for reading.”
Junior geology major, Catherine Cruz, is a member and believes that the Silent Book Club stands out from other book clubs because it doesn’t have any rules that make reading feel like a task.
“In most book clubs, you have like a required book to read, and then everyone has to read that same book, and it can get kind of tedious. It starts to feel like a class,” Cruz said. “Here you can read whatever you want, and you don’t have to feel pressured to discuss anything if you don’t feel comfortable doing that.”
The organization has attracted students of different majors and year levels. Cruz said she is one of many STEM students who have found the time spent in the organization’s meetings relaxing.
“A lot of what we do is really technical, and we don’t really have a lot of time to do reading for enjoyment, you know, like fiction books, so it’s like a nice break from all the work in school we have to do,” Cruz said.
Members frequently bring their own book, but if they don’t have one, the officers will lend one from any genre so that everyone can take part in the weekly one-hour silent sessions.
The organization promotes that reading in silence with others fosters a “togetherness” that one might not otherwise experience while reading alone. Furthermore, it has created a space where UTEP students can enjoy quality reading time without being hindered by loud noise, academic requirements or pressure.
For more information on UTEP’s Silent Book Club and their schedule, visit MineTracker.
Brisa Silva is a contributor and may be reached at [email protected]
