Book of the Month

Book of the Month (BOTM) is a literary institution that has shaped American reading culture for nearly a century. What began as a mail-order book club in 1926 has evolved into a modern subscription service that puts the power of choice in readers’ hands.

A Century of Literary History

Founded by Harry Scherman in 1926, Book of the Month Club emerged to solve a problem: books were expensive and libraries weren’t common. Scherman’s innovation was to have experts read upcoming books, select the best, and mass-produce them at lower prices.

The club quickly became a cultural tastemaker. Debut novels by Ernest Hemingway (“The Sun Also Rises”), J.D. Salinger (“The Catcher in the Rye”), and countless other literary legends were among its monthly selections. For decades, a BOTM selection could make an author’s career.

The Modern Era

After passing through various corporate owners including Time Inc. and Bertelsmann, BOTM was relaunched in 2015 under CEO John Lippman. The reimagined service traded the old “book of the month” model for something revolutionary: member choice.

Instead of receiving a pre-selected book, modern BOTM members choose from 5-7 curated titles each month. This simple shift, combined with a focus on emerging authors and early releases, resonated powerfully with millennial and Gen Z readers.

BOTM Today

Under current CEO Blake Orlandi, Book of the Month has grown to over 400,000 members and an estimated $50 million in annual revenue. The brand maintains a massive social media presence with over 1.5 million Instagram followers.

Approximately 75% of BOTM’s selections feature up-and-coming authors, with 80% being fiction. The service has become known for discovering hits before they become mainstream bestsellers, maintaining its century-old tradition of literary curation for a new generation.

The BOTM Difference

What sets BOTM apart from other book subscriptions:

• Choice, not chance: Members pick their book each month
• Curated quality: A panel of judges selects only the best new releases
• Early access: Many picks are exclusive early releases
• Community: Reading challenges, Book of the Year voting, and member tiers create engagement beyond the books themselves