Beyond Book Club: Female Founders Who Are Changing How We Read

The world of books has seen some major changes over the last few years, the biggest being that people around the world are reading more than ever before. With the mass availability of books, e-books, and audiobooks, people are using books as a way to connect with others via book clubs as well as directly with authors. Here are two female founders who have found solace in reading.

Padmasree Warrior’s Journey

Padmasree Warrior, the visionary behind Fable and an avid reader herself, established the company in July 2021. This was in response to readers’ concerns about finding time to read, choosing books, and desiring a social reading experience. Padmasree stated that reading does make a real difference in a person’s life. Reading a book for 30 minutes a day can help to make a person happier and healthier.

People who live stressful lives, or have stressful jobs, can learn to relax and lose themselves in a good book, which helps to lower their stress levels. Padmasree emphasized the positive impact of reading on mental health, noting that it not only broadens horizons and facilitates socialization but also defies the misconception that learning concludes in adulthood.

Melissa Gill’s Project

Melissa Gill felt very lonely during the pandemic due to having to stay at home and her husband being deployed, so she turned to reading. She particularly enjoyed romance novels and realized she wanted to help people find more diverse romance novels and have a space to talk about them.

She started The Steam Box, which is a quarterly delivery service that includes a box with a romance novel, items for self-care, and a personal pleasure item, and it was extremely successful. Both Gill and Warrior are finding their own ways to give people access to reading, to discussion about what they read, and to fully enjoy and embrace things that give them pleasure.