Common Reading Programs
Many universities and colleges have incorporated “common readings” intofirst year experience programs. Typically a book is selected by a campus committee and introduced during summer orientation activities. Institutions provide incoming freshman with a copy of the selected book. Students are expected to read the book over the summer and participate in discussion groups and other activities during the fall and/or spring semesters. Two longstanding programs include the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill ( and Appalachian State University ( The University of Texas-SanAntonio ( has incorporated a common reading into learning community activities. The UT program utilizes the book during the fall semester rather than having a summer reading program.
Other universities, such as IndianaUniversity – South Bend, have implemented“One Book, One Campus” programs ( All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to read a common book and participate in related activities.
Universities, large and small, have successfully implemented programs. CornellUniversity’s program has expanded to include high school students and alumni.
Read and listen to remarks by Carolyn (Biddy) Martin, Cornell University Provost.
The NationalResourceCenter for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition ( contains extensive information related to summer reading programs.
The site includes a searchable database of institutions with summer reading programs as well as an extensive book list. Most entries include contact information.
The following list includes books that have been used by colleges and universities within the past few years. Where available, links are provided to institutions that have used the book.
A Hope in the Unseen by Ronald Suskind
About the book and discussion questions:
Appalachian StateUniversity – 2004 Common Reading
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
About the book and discussion questions:
SlipperyRockUniversity of Pennsylvania– 2005 Common Reading
OhioUniversity – 2004 Common Reading
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
About the book and discussion questions:
ClemsonUniversity – 2004 Common Reading
CaliforniaPolytechnicStateUniversity, SanLuis Obispo – 2002 Common Reading
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
About the book and discussion questions:
CaliforniaPolytechnicStateUniversity, San Luis Obispo – 2005 Common Reading
MichiganStateUniversity “One Book, One Community” – 2005 Common Reading
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
About the book and discussion questions:
StateUniversity of New York-Oswego – 2003 Common Reading
BentleyCollege – 2004 Common Reading
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
About the book and discussion questions:
University of Alabama at Birmingham – 2005 Common Reading
Night by Elie Wiesel
About the book and discussion questions:
TexasStateUniversity– 2004 Common Reading
The Pact by Sam Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt
About the book and discussion questions:
University of Texas at San Antonio – 2005 Common Reading
Napoleon's Buttons: 17 Molecules That Changed History by Penny Le Couteur & Jay Burreson
About the book:
Saint LouisUniversity – 2005 Common Reading
The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
About the book:
KentStateUniversity – 2005 Common Reading
MountainsBeyondMountains by Tracy Kidder
About the book and discussion questions:
RutgersCollege Honors Program
LouisianaStateUniversity – 2005 Common Reading
West of Kabul, East of New York by Tamim Ansary
About the book:
TulaneUniversity Reading Project – 2003 Common Reading
Other Resources
Barbara Fister, a librarian at GustavusAldolphusCollege in St. PaulMinnesota, has compiled a list of colleges and universities with summer reading programs.
One Book, OneCollege: Common Reading Programs
The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress maintains a list of “One Book” Reading Promotion programs in the United States.
Reading Like a College Student:
This guide was prepared by Patricia Feldman and Ann Shattles who are affiliated with Southern Methodist University’s AltshulerLearningEnhancementCenter (A-LEC).
Compiled by Andrea L. Dinkelman, Science & Technology Librarian
2/16/06