Welcome to our readers, whether first-to-last pagers, skimmers, or wannabes! The MNA Commission on Nursing Practice and Education extends a warm invitation to join in engaging and enriching conversations with other MNA nurses. The Book Club meets three times a year, and offers not only connection with other nurses, but also 2.0 nursing contact hours!
All book clubs will be held HYBRID, in person at the MNA Office or via Zoom with all the bonus material it includes, such as pets, babies, and coffee mug wisdom. It’s an informal venue, yet often yields great insights for the time spent in discussion with one another.
Click on the links below or use the MNA event calendar at mnnurses.org/events to reserve your spot. You will receive a reminder email with the Zoom link prior to the Zoom book clubs. Hope to see you often in 2026! All book club meetings take place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Any book club with low registration will be cancelled.
Thursday, May 14, 2026, HYBRID: You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why it Matters by Kate Murphy (2020)
In this always illuminating and often humorous deep dive, Murphy explains why we’re not listening, what it’s doing to us, and how we can reverse the trend. She makes accessible the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening while also introducing us to some of the best listeners out there (including a CIA agent, focus group moderator, bartender, radio producer, and top furniture salesman). Equal parts cultural observation, scientific exploration, and rousing call to action that’s full of practical advice, You’re Not Listening is to listening what Susan Cain’s Quiet was to introversion. It’s time to stop talking and start listening.
Thursday, July 9, 2026, HYBRID: Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Greene (2025)
In 2019, author John Green met Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, preventable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing over a million people every year. In Everything Is Tuberculosis, John tells Henry’s story, 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.
Thursday, November 12, 2026, HYBRID: From Darkness to Healing: A Nurse’s Journey Through Anorexia by Zachary Ihli (2024)
From Darkness to Healing: A Nurse’s Journey Through Anorexia is an autobiographical book by Zachary Ihli. It presents a deeply personal and poignant narrative of Zachary’s battle with anorexia, framed within the context of his life as a nurse. The book delves into his struggles from childhood to adulthood, highlighting the impact of his eating disorder on both his personal and professional life. It recounts his experiences with various treatments, the psychological and physical challenges he faced, and his journey towards recovery. Zachary’s story is one of resilience and determination, providing insights into the complexities of eating disorders and the importance of acceptance, support, and tailored treatment approaches. The book is a blend of personal reflection, emotional struggles, and professional challenges, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between personal health and professional life in the context of a severe and enduring eating disorder.