If you’ve been keeping up with my previous posts—"Organize Locally: How Antifascist Book Clubs Can Build Power" and "I Want You! To Start an Antifascist Book Club"—you already know why antifascist book clubs are so important right now. Since those posts went live, the response has been incredible—thousands of new readers, countless messages, and a lot of people asking the same question:

How do I actually start an antifascist book club?

So, let’s talk about it. This post is your guide to getting started. It's about building a local community that can resist authoritarianism and advance democratic values. And to make that a bit easier, we’ve added a ton of new resources on the Veterans Fighting Fascism website. I’ll be linking to them throughout this post.

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Start with a Purpose, Not Just a Reading List

Let’s get one thing straight: the goal isn’t to just sit around and talk about books. The goal is to transform that knowledge into action. When you’re setting up your book club, think about what you actually want to accomplish. Is your primary focus political education, mobilizing for direct action, or building coalitions with other groups in your area?

Having a clear purpose doesn’t just keep meetings from turning into rambling discussions—it also gives people a reason to show up and keep showing up.

Transforming knowledge into action can mean a lot of things. Maybe it’s organizing petition drives, showing up to town hall meetings, or starting community watch programs to monitor local extremist activities. Or it could mean using what you’ve learned about historical resistance movements to inspire strategies for confronting authoritarian tactics today—like challenging disinformation campaigns at school board meetings, organizing against voter suppression efforts, or pushing back on local policies that target marginalized communities. The point is to take what you learn and find ways to apply it directly to the issues facing your neighborhood.

If you need help defining your mission, check out the How to Start an Antifascist Book Club guide on the VFF website.

It’s All About the Core Group

You don’t need a huge group to get started. A handful of dedicated people is more than enough to build something powerful. But it’s important to make sure everyone’s on the same page about what you’re trying to do.

Forming a diverse group of locals can make your club a lot stronger. Each person will have their own priorities and insights based on their lifestyle and identity. For example, parents with children of different ages are more likely to know what’s happening at local schools and whether your club should be paying attention to school board meetings. Older folks in assisted living might have concerns about the rumors and disinformation that’s impacting their peers. Or consider veterans in your community—they might be tuned in to local VA policies or veterans’ organizations, which can open doors for coalition-building.

And don’t forget about your local librarians—they’re often the unsung heroes of community organizing. Whether it’s helping you secure space for meetings, recommending books for your reading list, or even pointing you to local archives and research resources, librarians can be invaluable allies in getting your core group started.

The Leader Guides on the VFF website are intended to make your life as a Club Leader a lot easier. They’ve got agendas, key discussion questions, and even action steps to keep things on track.

Choose Your Readings Like It Matters—Because It Does

The books you choose aren’t just there to fill time—they’re shaping your group’s understanding of the threats we face and how to counter them. That’s why we encourage groups to start with the first six recommendations from the Antifascist Book Club Reading List and read them in order. These books cover the historical roots of authoritarianism, strategies for resistance, and practical lessons for defending democracy in the age of Trump. They’re designed to give your club a strong foundation—not just for discussing these threats, but for organizing against them effectively.

The Leader Guides are there to help you through these first readings. They include detailed agendas, key discussion questions, and actionable steps to turn what you’ve read into real-world strategies. We’re still working on publishing more guides, but what’s available now is more than enough to get your club started on solid ground.

And once you’ve made it through those first six readings, that’s when things get interesting. At that point, your club should start operating like a mini democracy—discussing and voting on what to read next based on the interests and priorities of your members. This not only keeps people engaged but also ensures that your club continues to reflect the needs and concerns of your community.

The updated Antifascist Book Club Reading List is packed with recommendations that cover everything from historical fascism to modern authoritarianism.

Meetings That Matter

Your meetings need to do more than just discuss books—they need to turn those discussions into action. This means creating space to talk about what’s happening in your local community and figuring out concrete steps your club can take to respond. Whether that’s organizing a teach-in about new voter suppression laws in your state, showing up to protest at city council meetings, or partnering with local organizations to support tenants’ rights, the goal is to make sure your club isn’t just learning but doing.

And while it’s great to tackle national issues, don’t underestimate the impact of focusing locally. Authoritarianism doesn’t just show up in Washington—it creeps in through local policies, school boards, and county commissions. Keeping the focus local helps your club build real power and develop leaders who understand the unique challenges facing your community.

The Leader Guides break down how to structure meetings for maximum impact.

It’s Not Just About Reading—It’s About Doing

The real power of these clubs isn’t just in what they can do outside the room—it’s also in how they help people develop leadership skills they might not even know they have. As you plan and run meetings, you’ll start to see certain members naturally step up—maybe someone who was quiet at first becomes a reliable facilitator, or someone else turns out to be great at logistics and organizing events.

Often, people recognize leadership traits in someone long before that person sees it in themselves. Your club can play a huge role in helping folks come out of their shell and realize their potential. Encouraging new leaders isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about making sure your club can keep growing and taking on bigger projects. When people see their contributions being valued, they’re more likely to stay engaged and take on more responsibilities.

This leadership development doesn’t just benefit your club—it strengthens the broader antifascist movement. Leaders who cut their teeth running book club meetings can go on to organize protests, manage campaigns, or even run for local office. This is how we build a pipeline of leaders who understand both the theory and practice of fighting authoritarianism.

This leadership development aspect is also where you’ll see that these clubs aren’t just about resisting authoritarianism—they’re about going on offense. By developing a new generation of leaders who are ready to take initiative, you’re forcing the fascists to respond to us, not the other way around.

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Stay Safe and Stay Smart

Organizing against authoritarianism comes with risks. The VFF guide has a whole section on operational security that’s worth reading.

First things first: protect your members’ privacy. This means using encrypted messaging apps like Signal for communications and being cautious about what information gets shared online. Avoid using social media to discuss sensitive details about your club’s plans or members.

It’s also a good idea to designate a security officer within your group—someone responsible for staying up to date on best practices for both digital and physical security. This could involve everything from setting up secure email options like ProtonMail to teaching club members how to spot surveillance or handle encounters with law enforcement.

And don’t overlook physical security at your meetings. If you’re gathering in person, consider venues that offer a degree of privacy, like a library meeting room that requires a sign-in or a community center where you can control who enters.

The goal isn’t to create paranoia—it’s to make sure that everyone feels safe participating. When people feel protected, they’re more likely to stay engaged and contribute to the club’s efforts.

Final Thoughts: This Is Just the Beginning

If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly serious about starting an Antifascist Book Club—and that’s a powerful first step. Now it’s time to put that energy into action.

Here are three things you can do right now to get started:

* Visit the How to Start an Antifascist Book Club guide for step-by-step instructions and resources to help you launch your club.

* Check out the Leader Guides to help you plan your first few meetings and keep discussions focused and productive.

* Share this post with at least one person who you think might be interested in joining or starting their own club. Building a movement starts with one-on-one conversations.

So if you’re serious about making a difference, don’t wait. Get your core group together, set some clear goals, and start building power where you live.

We've got some more exciting updates coming for the Antifascist Book Club that we'll be rolling out in the coming months. A lot of what we're dealing with here can be heavy. With that in mind, we're exploring some fun ways to help Antifascist Book Clubs with the socializing part—maybe even some bookmarks, leaflets, or other items featuring drink recipes to keep things lively. Nothing's set in stone yet, but stay tuned!

Before you go, I’d love to hear from you:

What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in getting your Antifascist Book Club started—or, if you’ve already got one, what’s been your most successful strategy so far?

Also, we’re curious—what kind of Veterans Fighting Fascism gear would you like to see in our store?

— Kris Goldsmith

P.S. Follow the brilliant creators 'Nope Brigade' and Jonstertruck for some great TikTok videos on the history of fascism.

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