A novel way
to get your people
to read.
If it wasn’t for your interest in others, maybe the people around you wouldn’t be the same.
If it wasn’t for your care for people, you and the people you care for would be in a different place.
It turns out that a great way to build people up is through reading, and discussing what you read.
It’s been this way for centuries, and we could use a bit more of that right now.
read on
We are getting ready to launch a tool to help leaders like you form small reading groups.
It’s called ReadWith, and it looks like the image below.
ReadWith gives you...
- A novel way to share reading notes with your group. No spoilers.
- One place to keep your reading notes.
- A way to set goals for the group (or for yourself, when you're reading solo).
“It’s now time to organize a group”
A tool for...
organizers of small reading groups, coaches, team leads, church volunteers, teachers, community organizers, company owners…
women’s groups, men’s groups, accountability groups, common interest clubs, professional communities, study groups…
thought leaders, meetup organizers, scholars, scholars-to-be…
authors and their fans, fans of an author…
lovers of wisdom, lifelong students…
first-time readers…
re-readers…
…and anyone who’s been meaning to get the group going.
Two people to start.
Groups, from the people you know best.
Learning together.
Reading is better with one other person.
I'm Pascal, and I've built ReadWith, a tool to help lead reading groups, and to share reading notes with others.
It works like this: you take the lead, reading a book, writing down your notes, seeing if the book will be a fit, a good book worth discussing. Then, you start inviting others to read it with you. You set up goals (this chapter by that date), and you keep reading each at your own pace. And you capture your thoughts in ReadWith.
As you add notes in ReadWith, something happens. Your friend's notes appear, but only the notes up to that point in the book. No spoilers.
Have calls or meet up in person to discuss your reactions to the book, and those notes are going to help with the discussion.
All you need is two people. In fact, you could just be reading books alone, and then down the line you could re-read a book with your past self. I still think, however, that it's better to read a book with another person.
I hope you'll join the waitlist below. If you're looking for a short book to read, I wrote Unread Bookshelf: On The Books We Meant to Read—a 20-page booklet in PDF and EPUB to help you get going on the books you've been meaning to read. Your welcome email will include the download links, and you can read it alongside my notes in ReadWith for the book, a sort of backstory on the book. Reading the book with me is also a great way to try ReadWith's group reading experience at the same time. Hope you like it!
— Pascal
Waitlist gift
Unread Bookshelf — free when you join
On The Books We Meant to Read
Join the ReadWith waitlist and future Bulletins. Your welcome email includes PDF and EPUB download links for this 20-page booklet, to help with the books on our shelves that we meant to read. Read it on your own, or alongside the author's notes in ReadWith (to give the app a try).
1. Can I use ReadWith today? +
ReadWith isn't open for general sign-up yet. Join the waitlist to get early access, and as a bonus today, you'll receive download links to Unread Bookshelf, a book to help with the books we meant to read. You'll also receive a link to join a 1:1 reading group with me, the book's author, with the backstory notes on the book.
2. What is ReadWith? +
ReadWith is a novel tool for running reading groups, and for keeping and sharing reading notes. You keep your own copy of the book (print, ebook, or audiobook), add notes and your current page as you go, and see your reading partner's notes only when you've reached the same part of the book. No spoilers.
3. How does the "no spoilers" feature work? +
When you record a note, you also mark the page (or listening position) you were on. Your reading partners only see that note once they've passed the same point, and vice versa. You can read ahead freely; notes stay hidden until they catch up.
4. Does ReadWith work with ebooks and audiobooks? +
Yes — any format works. ReadWith doesn't host or sync your ebook or audio files; you record notes manually and mark your current page or progress. Print, ebook, audiobook, library loan... it doesn't matter.
5. Do I upload my book into ReadWith? +
No. ReadWith is for capturing notes, like a companion to your Kindle, Kobo, or Audible app. Open ReadWith when you have something to share, tap the book, add your note and progress, and your thread reveals more of your partner's notes as you catch up.
6. Can I import my notes from the Kindle app? +
Not today. Notes are added in ReadWith directly. The experience is built for longer, thoughtful reactions: disagreements with the author, stories a passage reminded you of, connections you recall from the other books you've read.
7. How do I add notes while I'm reading? +
As you read or listen, open ReadWith in your browser when you have an insight or reaction worth sharing. Add your note and where you are in the book; it joins the thread, and you'll see your partner's notes for the same spot (or earlier) from that point forward.
8. Is there an iOS or Android app? +
Not yet. ReadWith runs in the browser for now. On iPhone or Android you can add the ReadWith URL to your home screen for quicker access; native apps aren't available yet.
9. Can I read with more than one person? +
Yes, you can read alone, with one other person, or with groups of people you invite.
10. What will pricing look like at launch? +
Guests to a reading group pay nothing. The Organizer pays. There will be two paid tiers: as a Patron, you'll be able to add notes on your books and for each reading, add one other reader per book. As an Organizer, you'll be able to add more readers per book, groups of up to 15 people. Support for larger groups is also planned. Please be in touch if you have a specific need by writing to pascal@readwith.app.
11. Is there in-app chat? +
Not yet. To discuss a specific note, use Copy URL of Note on that note and continue the conversation in the messaging app you already use (text, email, Signal, etc.).
12. Can I re-read a book with my older notes? +
Yes! This is one of the great ways to use ReadWith, because great books are worth re-reading. In this case, your past self will be your reading partner, and you'll notes from your past self appear as you add your own notes. It really is one of the surprising joys of reading with ReadWith.