We’re thrilled to introduce PEN Reads, our new, member-exclusive online book club featuring winners from the 2026 PEN America Literary Awards.
The inaugural pick is this year’s PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award winner, The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains by Pria Anand. The judges called the book “[a] genre-bending tapestry of science, memoir, literature, and case studies” and said, “This is science writing at its best: wisdom, insight, and clarity that does not sacrifice poetry or beauty.”
Members who RSVP will receive a suggested reading guide and weekly email check-ins. The culminating book club meeting on June 16 will feature a 15-minute Q&A with the author, followed by a moderated discussion for the book club members. You can purchase a copy of The Mind Electric from Bookshop.org or your local bookstore. We also recommend checking to see if your local library has a copy!
This is a member-exclusive book club. If you are a member, please visit the member benefits page to access the registration link. Not a PEN America member? Join today!