Which part sounds optimistic?

Unlike picking a book you haven't read for book group, there is literally nothing to gain from reviewing a book you haven't read.

Presumably many individuals do this to engage in the culture wars.

Except engagement, likes and fake internet points on social media - it seems.

> I write as someone who wish that people in my book club wouldn't pick books they haven't read.

That is weird expectation to me. At my book club we decide on what books we are interested in reading by voting. That of course means that sometimes what we end up reading something which turns out to be a dud, and then we discuss why or how it felt short of our expectations. Would you expect someone to pre-vet the books you embark on reading?

In my opinion picking a book for book club is not endorsement, but just an expression that it interests the book club.

I thought that was how book clubs worked: they picked a book, the members then read it over a reasonable period, then reconvened to discuss it and pick the next.