Full Breakdown
Modern Man’s Book Club Challenges Singapore’s Gender-Skewed Reading Culture
7/31/2026, 5:47:11 AM
Genesis of the Modern Man’s Book Club
In late 2025, the article’s author and co-founder Zubin Jain launched the Modern Man’s Book Club in Singapore after observing that existing book clubs were overwhelmingly female. The founders aimed to provide an outlet for men who already read or wished to read more but lacked a space to discuss books. Their initial meetings attracted only a handful of participants, but the club quickly expanded to regular gatherings of 15-20 people, with men now outnumbering women despite the club’s open-to-all policy.
Gender Imbalance in Singapore Book Clubs
The founders highlighted the absence of studies explaining why Singapore’s book clubs skew female, suggesting that women may treat such clubs as social events and invite friends, thereby creating a self-reinforcing cycle. This dynamic can leave men unaware of existing groups or feeling disconnected from discussions that focus on topics they find less relatable.
Growth and Participation Figures
Attendance data reported by the founders show a steady rise from a few attendees in the first two sessions to a consistent 15-20 participants per meeting. The club’s format includes handouts with discussion prompts, yet conversations often diverge organically after the opening question, demonstrating a willingness among members to engage beyond scripted topics. A notable session centered on the 2025 Booker Prize winner *Flesh* by David Szalay, where participants debated the novel’s portrayal of an emotionally detached male protagonist and linked it to broader intergenerational discussions of masculinity.
Implications for Male Social Engagement
The club’s evolution suggests a demand for male-focused literary spaces that counter the stereotype that men avoid self-reflection. By fostering free-flowing dialogue on literature and personal experiences, the Modern Man’s Book Club offers a modest but tangible response to the broader issue of male loneliness in Singapore, providing a venue where men can discuss emotions and societal expectations more openly.
