The UCI ANTrepreneur Center, part of the Blackstone LaunchPad, is dedicated to supporting UC Irvine undergraduate students interested in innovation, social impact, and entrepreneurship. As part of its mission, the Center creates a vibrant community and provides resources tailored to students’ real-time needs. This fall, the Center is excited to announce a new initiative designed to help students grow both personally and professionally—a book club that blends the power of literature with the entrepreneurial journey.
A New Chapter in Learning: The ANTrepreneur Book Club
Stefani Rios, the Program Coordinator at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, is launching the book club, inspired by her own positive experiences in group reading. The club aims to create a supportive environment where students can delve into books that will support them as entrepreneurs and professionals.
Given all that college students have on their plates, it can be difficult to find the time to read additional material. The ANTrepreneur book club looks to address this problem by offering a structured way for students to stay accountable to their reading goals while fostering a community of like-minded peers. “Creating a book club at the Center will help demonstrate the power of consistency and community while also helping students learn how to allocate time in their schedules,” Stefani says.
She adds, “We’re excited about the interactive element where we discuss how the book is relevant to our lives and businesses. It’s one thing to read a book by yourself, and it’s an entirely new experience to read a book with a group of people all at the same time.”
Book Club Format
The book club will begin with a kickoff info session in the first week of fall quarter on Monday, September 30th, at 12:00 pm. at the ANTrepreneur Center. Those interested should fill out this form, to ensure their spot. Students will learn about the expectations and commitments involved. Those who decide to join will gather at the Center each Wednesday, where they’ll discuss the previous week’s reading. These weekly meetings are designed to keep students accountable, encourage them to dive deeper into the book’s topics, and explore how these concepts can be applied to their entrepreneurial endeavors.
To further support students, the ANTrepreneur Center will purchase the book for those who commit to the book club. Students who attend all the book club sessions and complete the reading will get to keep their copy of the book, adding it to their hopefully growing personal library—a valuable resource for their ongoing journey in entrepreneurship and professional development.
Education and Career Readiness at the Core
As part of the Division of Undergraduate Education, the UCI ANTrepreneur Center is making concerted efforts to focus on career readiness skills. Helping student entrepreneurs develop good habits and encouraging them to appreciate the value of knowledge within business, productivity, and classic startup books, will prepare them for their innovative pursuits and future careers. We are also allowing faculty, staff, and grad students to join if they would like.
Ryan Foland, the Director of the ANTrepreneur Center, shares his perspective:
“Someone once told me that the difference between people now and in 10 years comes down to two things—the books you read and the people you meet. The Center is already a great place to meet other entrepreneurs and mentors, and adding a book club only makes the resources we offer more relevant. Books are powerful with information that is ready to be discovered, and the right book at the right time can truly be life-changing.”
The First Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
The inaugural book for the club is Atomic Habits by James Clear. This best-selling book has revolutionized how people think about habits and personal development. Clear argues that it’s not the grand gestures but the small, consistent changes—what he calls “atomic habits”—that lead to significant, lasting results. By focusing on tiny, incremental improvements, students can build the foundational skills they need to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey.
Atomic Habits offers practical advice on how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the small behaviors that lead to remarkable results. For entrepreneurs and innovators, this approach is particularly valuable as it helps in building the discipline required to manage a business, develop new ideas, and sustain momentum over time. Whether students are interested in innovation, social impact, or turning a side hustle into a profitable venture, mastering atomic habits can provide the crucial edge they need.
Join the Journey
The UCI ANTrepreneur Center invites all UCI undergraduate students interested in entrepreneurship, professional development, and personal growth to join the book club. The kickoff info session will be held on Monday, September 30th, at 12:00 pm. at the ANTrepreneur Center. For more information and to sign up for the book club, RSVP HERE by October 4th This is an opportunity to not only read and learn but to connect with fellow students who share the same drive and passion for making an impact. Together, we can turn small habits into big success.