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You are here: CSU, Chico | CSU, Chico News | Archived News | Spring 2012 | Book in Common for Academic Year 2012-2013 Announced

Book in Common for Academic Year 2012-2013 Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 03-29-2012

Joe Wills, CSU, Chico Public Affairs
530-898-4143
Lisa DeLaby, Butte College Public Relations
530-895-2937

California State University, Chico President Paul Zingg and Butte College President Kimberly Perry jointly announced today that the Book in Common for Academic Year 2012-13 will be “Unquenchable,” by Robert Glennon. “We are pleased to join together to make this announcement,” said Zingg and Perry. “Since the Book in Common became a joint project of our campuses, the City of Chico and County of Butte, we have been gratified at the community’s enthusiastic response to the books and the conversations that these books spark.”

“Unquenchable” focuses on one of California’s most pressing and controversial issues: water. Glennon’s highly readable account reveals that water—both its quality and quantity—is not a problem particular to California, since it affects many other regions of the United States—from Atlanta to Minnesota to Las Vegas. But water is a particularly vexing issue in California and in the North State in particular. In many ways, the wise management of water is the most important issue facing communities across the North State.

“We hope that this book will encourage an informed, open and reasoned discussion of how we in California will manage the critically important resource of water. Water is a necessity for all life, and if that were not enough, it is also the engine of economic growth across the state. This is most obvious in agriculture, but extends to many other sectors of the economy as well,” according to Zingg. “This book fits well with Butte College’s emphasis on sustainability, a commitment shared by Chico State,” added Perry. 

The Book in Common is a shared community read, designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues facing the broader community. “The Book in Common is an important means for Chico State to fulfill its missions of community engagement and serving the public good,” according to Zingg. “We feel that ‘Unquenchable’ will create lively and meaningful conversations and discussions on a topic of central importance to our community,” said Perry.

The Book in Common is chosen each year by a group of university faculty and staff and community members.  Past community reads include “The Soloist,” by Steve Lopez, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” by William Kamkwamba and the current Book in Common, “Zeitoun,” by Dave Eggers. As in past years, Butte College, CSU, Chico, the city and county have sponsored a variety of events: panel discussions, lectures and other public events, in celebration of the Book in Common. Author visits are also part of the Book in Common. The much-celebrated author of “Zeitoun,” Dave Eggers, will give a public talk on May 7 in Laxson Auditorium.  More details about Robert Glennon’s visit will be made available later this year. 

For more information on the Book in Common see www.csuchico.edu/bic.

Previous Books in Common:

2010-2011, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba

2009-2010, “The Soloist” by Steve Lopez

2008-2009, “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson

2007-2008, “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder

2006-2007, “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro

2005-2006, “True Notebooks” by Mark Salzman

2004-2005, “Plan B” by Lester Brown

2003-2004, “The American Soul” by Joseph Needleman

2002-2003, “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser

2001-2002, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman

2000-2001, “The Moon by Whalelight” by Diane Ackerman

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