YouTube Launches New “BookTube” Digital Book Club

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YouTube recently debuted the new “BookTube” monthly learning series, which launched October 17 on YouTube.com/Learning and features some of the world’s most renowned authors, including Malcolm Gladwell, Margaret Atwood, James Patterson, Melinda Gates, and more.

YouTube creators chat with Malcolm Gladwell about his new book on the first episode of "BookTube."
YouTube creators chat with Malcolm Gladwell about his new book on the first episode of "BookTube."

“BookTube” is a monthly online book club meeting that is free and open to everyone. Each episode resembles a small book club meeting consisting of one bestselling author, a moderator, and top YouTube creators, including BookTubers, as they have an engaging conversation about the author’s latest book.

This new series is the latest from a slate of new learning-focused YouTube Originals coming soon to the digital video-sharing platform. The idea was sparked through YouTube’s critically acclaimed BookTube special in March 2019, which featured Michelle Obama (Becoming) in conversation with John Green.

YouTube has also released the official trailer for episode one of “BookTube,” which highlights the series’ first featured author, Malcolm Gladwell, the New York Times bestselling author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and more, as he discusses his latest piece of nonfiction: Talking to Strangers, which examines the interactions we have with people we don’t know. In this first episode, Gladwell is joined by guest moderator Derek Muller, creator of the Veritasium YouTube channel, and BookTubers Nai’a Perkins (NaiaReadsAndSmiles), Danielle Bainbridge (Origin of Everything), and Ellias Hoang (Ellias) to discuss some of the ideas behind Gladwell’s new book, his Jamaican roots, and the only five liquids he drinks.

A new episode will air the third Thursday of each month. Future episodes will feature bestselling authors Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments), James Patterson (Alex Cross series), and Melinda Gates (The Moment of Lift). The series is produced by Boardwalk Pictures, producer of Chef’s Table and Last Chance U, and YouTube Originals.

The first episode is available to view on YouTube now.