national readathon? >> guest: it is coming up january 24 where all across america we are inviting readers to commit to spend the afternoon reading any book they like and you can do it at home or in any of the many venues participating across the country that include libraries and bookstores and schools. >> host: and why are you promoting this? >> guest: it is a wonderfully large and competitive question but essentially our hope is to find different ways in the coming years to foster a culture of reading in america and remind people of what the experience is like to sit and really dedicate a long time to reading. we hear feedback all the time that people read books less because they feel they don't have time or they do it in little snippets here and there but there is a pleasure that comes from really getting lost in the world is a book that's

different from if you're checking your phone every few minutes were on the go on different venues and we want people to remember what that experience feels like and get lost again in the world of books. >> host: so you were actually setting the timeframe for this for hours 12 noon to 4 p.m. saturday. >> guest: that's right we agreed four hours was longer than others normally spend reading but not so onerous that it would be impossible for people with kids or jobs or other things that there would be no way they could actually sit and do it. so 4:00 was the agreed upon time that seemed reasonable amount to ask everyone to try to set aside. >> host: are there groups participating? >> guest: yes. everything from book clubs to local libraries and schools and on the website there is actually a list state by state of different venues by city. so you can go there to see if a place near you is already

participating and then joined from noon to four. >> host: besides the website is there a hash tag? >> guest: we are using the hash tag time to read reminding people about why we make time to read. so you can search on any of your different platforms if you already see people participating and talking about what it is they plan to be reading that saturday and you can share what you will be reading and why you are excited about it so if you are eating with your cat snuggled up on your lap and participate in the larger virtual community that way. >> host: there is a money aspect to this as well. what is this? >> guest: there is. sort of similar to how people do marathons for charity, we are inviting people come if optional but we would love if you would

consider raising money for the national book foundation. the national book foundation is most famous for the book the awards they give out a free fall in fiction and nonfiction and poetry, but they also do incredible work around the country bringing everything from literacy home libraries authors to speak to kids in many communities around america, the communities that are not necessarily getting diverse rich programming in books and national book foundation is filling that gap so the money raised will go to help support their ongoing efforts for the program. >> host: how do you contribute? >> guest: great question. you can find on the website the link to the first giving that as a platform for donations many people are already probably familiar with. again it is similar to what is used for marathons and you can donate any amount or set up your own fund raising page and raise funds that way and it's under the event called national

readathon. >> host: is very targeted target for how much you want to raise? >> guest: this is the first year doing this so we are leaving it open to what's happening today i'm thrilled it's almost $15,000 raised already in the early days. so i am really pleased to see the diversity of people donating and really it is the kind of thing where even small amounts, five, ten, $20 are going to make a big difference in overall getting us to a really nice number of tickets to the national book foundation. >> host: so it benefits the national book foundation of who are some of the corporate sponsors behind the national readathon? >> guest: good reads has been on board talking about it in their newsletter and on their website and they are going to be having a reading audience and francisco which is where their headquarters is coming and then nashville -- mashable has a club

and they are also participating and they've been talking about it on their social media and they are having a book party on their headquarters here in new york. so from coast to coast some sponsors coming out to support it. >> host: and don't forget your own at random house. >> guest: thank you. i would be in trouble for that one. yes, penguin random house, the publishing company, we have been supporting the effort as well. we have a number of authors on board to be reading and we've been making these videos which we just started releasing yesterday and its writers talking about why books are important in their lives and why they make time to read, and they are fun and also on the website and can be found on the social media channels again searching for the time to read hash tag. >> making time to read is important because -- >> your brain will rock you.

>> it can educate and entertain. >> there's nothing like a book to help you see the world in a different way. >> if i could list the impact books have had on my life i would say they've changed my life.