FAQs
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What is JSU?
JSU (Just Show Up) is a unique lifelong learning community. It exists to help its members read great books, find like-minded learners, and put ideas from these books into action together.
A typical JSU session meets once a week over Zoom at a set time. An hour-long format is composed of a meet & greet, reading & listening of books, and a group reflection. No pre-reading is required.
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Learning Without Homework?
No pre-reading is required as we read real-time during the session with the help of Audible audiobooks and Kindle e-books. For this reason, some have labeled us a lazy men/women's book club ;-). However, you are welcome to read on your own before or after a JSU session.
BTW, we often see that reading together increases our private reading. Thus, joining the JSU learning community can help you become a more diligent reader!
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What are the Benefits of JSU?
You finish books by just showing up!
It's like being on a cruise ship with other like-minded learners and seamlessly enjoying the itinerary from the introduction to the last chapter. It's all figured out for you with no homework whatsoever. You just show up.
You also learn from BOTH authors & JSU participants. Reading (via Kindle) & listening (via Audible) simultaneously and discussing the content immediately in a group help enhance understanding, retention, and application much better than reading alone.
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What if I Miss a JSU Session?
You can arrange beforehand or afterward to read the section you missed on your own. Or reach out to your JSU facilitator and ask if you can receive a copy of any notes taken during the missed session.
BTW it is not uncommon to miss a session or two, and most JSU members can overcome occasional absences without any issues.
Also, anyone is welcome to join a JSU session in the middle of a book and begin learning together in the community.
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How Long Does It Take to Finish a Book?
It depends on the length of the book but a shorter book can take just a few hours (or roughly 2 months including the discussion time) while a longer book, like a lengthy biography, can take something like 25 hours (or roughly a year including the discussion time).
We can also vary reading speed anywhere from 1x to 1.3x to ensure we understand the content while progressing nicely on finishing the book.
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Why Do I Have to Read a Whole Book? Can't I Just Read its Summary?
You can certainly read a summary; however, that is not the same.
Reading a whole book allows you to fully understand the author's main points, helps greatly with the retention of content, and most importantly, increases the chance of your putting ideas from the book into action.
Also reading the whole book with like-minded learners as a member of the JSU community will further increase the likelihood of your embracing the reading experience, internalizing learning, and pursuing the best life has to offer.