About the Book in Common Project
The Book in Common is a shared, community read, designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues facing the campus and the broader community. The program has evolved from one focused on incoming students, to a reading experience that bridges the campus and community. The Book in Common creates opportunities for dialogue and deliberation, reflection and education, and a shared sense of purpose among a diverse group of readers on issues that matter to us all. In that shared experience, it is hoped that touchstones of common interest and our shared humanity are created that contribute to an enhanced sense of community and engagement – with issues and with one another.
The Book in Common provides an opportunity for students to participate in a broader community – of scholarship, of discussion and engagement, and provides one more opportunity for the University to serve as a point of connection and reflection for diverse communities within the North State. The Book in Common is truly an embodiment of the University’s commitment to lifelong learning.
Criteria used to select the Book in Common:
- The Book in Common should be engaging to a broad readership, drawing diverse readers into the book and the issues it raises;
- The Book in Common should deal with relevant and enduring topics;
- The Book in Common should lend itself to use and discussion in a variety of contexts in the community and on campus;
- The Book in Common should touch on important social issues, and value the diverse cultural perspectives found in contemporary society;
- The Book in Common should resonate with the unique characteristics of the North State and CSU, Chico as a special place for living and learning.
Each year, the Book in Common draws together a shifting kaleidoscope of people who commit to encouraging the reading of the book and to organizing events that highlight themes and issues raised in each year’s selection. Partners in the Book in Common include Butte College, Chico Unified School District, Butte County Public Libraries, the cities of Chico and Oroville, and local booksellers, among others. Whenever possible, the activities organized around the Book in Common include a visit by the book’s author to the campus. Through all of these activities, the Book in Common provides the campus and community with a means to discuss common and enduring themes, enhance our sense of connectedness and belonging, and to foster an intellectual community linking the University with life in the North State.