Sharon McMahon with her book in hand

The Book Club That Makes You Smarter

Created by bestselling author Sharon McMahon

Be the Kind of Person Who Knows This Stuff.

  • Read bold, conversation-starting books.
  • Join live Q&As with bestselling authors.
  • Understand history, law, and the systems shaping our lives.

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Trusted by thousands of curious readers

Member reviews

Books this season

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller • #1 Washington Post bestseller • #1 Indie Bestseller• USA Today Bestseller

John Green, award-winning author and passionate advocate for global healthcare reform, tells a deeply human story illuminating the fight against the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

Woven through with the scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world—and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis.

A New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2024 • A New Yorker Best Book of 2024

New York Times Bestseller • USA Today Bestseller

Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Books of the Year • Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Books

In the tradition of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, a page-turning ninety-three-year history of Crownsville Hospital, one of the nation’s last segregated asylums, that the New York Times described as "fascinating…meticulous research" and bestselling author Clint Smith endorsed it as "a book that left me breathless."

Meet the authors

John Green

John Green is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of books including Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down, and The Anthropocene Reviewed. With his brother, Hank, John has co-created many online video projects, including Vlogbrothers, and the educational channel, Crash Course.


John serves on the board of trustees for the global health non-profit Partners In Health and spoke at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Fight to End Tuberculosis. John lives with his family in Indianapolis.

Antonia Hylton

Antonia Hylton is a Peabody and two-time Emmy award-winning Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, and the New York Times bestselling author of MADNESS. She is also the cohost of the hit podcasts Southlake and Grapevine.

Antonia’s won several awards, including Emmys for education and immigration reporting, two Gracie Awards for her stories about women, a NAMIC Vision Award for reporting on violence and politics in Chicago, and two Front Page Awards for special reporting and breaking news.

Antonia graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 2015, where she received prizes for her writing and investigative research on race, mass incarceration, and the history of psychiatry.

Join us in

Governerds Insider

A book club like no other—smart, surprising, and seriously fun.

This isn't just a place to read great books. It's a private community of curious minds, history lovers, and everyday people who want to go deeper—and have a blast doing it. As a Governerds Insider, you'll get exclusive access to:

  • 📱 A private Instagram account where I show up every day
  • 📚 Deep dives into history you probably didn't learn in school (but should've)
  • 🎓 Monthly live workshops on everything from Supreme Court decisions to tuberculosis
  • 💬 Live Zoom hangouts that build community, and where I answer your questions
  • 📖 Conversations with bestselling authors of the books we read

Our guests this season include legends John Green and Antonia Hylton!

Whether we're unpacking presidential scandals or decoding pop culture, it's always fascinating—and it's never boring.

👉 Don't miss your chance to join us.

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This season's workshops

Join us for an hour to learn about interesting topics!

How The Small and The Mighty Can (Finally!) Stop Underestimating Themselves

with Mary Marantz

Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases

with Jessica Malaty Rivera

Important Supreme Court Decisions of the 2024-25 Term – Part One

with Steve Vladeck

Important Supreme Court Decisions of the 2024-25 Term – Part Two

with Steve Vladeck

What are you waiting for?

Register now

This truly is the best place on the internet.

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