Purpose
The Common Read is a program designed to engage the university community, its students, staff and faculty, in a unified intellectual activity. For first-year students it introduces them to academic expectations, respectful discourse, and community building. First-year students will be asked to read the book as part of their ISEM 101 Integrated Seminar requirements. The Common Read book is available through the U of I VandalStore - Bookstore.
This is a program sponsored through the General Education program, supported by the Office of Student Affairs, and a host of faculty, staff and student members on the Common Read Committee.
Common Read - 2013-14
The University of Idaho is excited to announce our Common Read for 2013-2014, Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit by Barry Estabrook. The author, Barry Estabrook, will be giving a keynote address on the Moscow campus, Thursday, October 3, 2013, at 7:00 pm in the Student Union Ballroom. Free and the general public is welcome.
On Thursday, October 10, 2013, at 7:00 pm in the Commons Clearwater/Whitewater Room, please join us for a panel discussion of Estabrook's Tomatoland. Panelists include: Eric Anderson (University of Idaho Career Center), John Foltz (Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), Jodi Johnson-Maynard (Associate Professor, Soils/Water Management and Organic Farming), and Jesse Martinez (CAMP Assistant Director).
All first-year students are asked to purchase a copy, available at the U of I VandalStore - Bookstore, along with other bookstores and publication outlets. When first-year students take their ISEM 101 Integrative Seminar, be it Fall Semester or Spring Semester, they will be involved in a class discussion of the book and asked to write a short reflective essay onTomatoland. Paperback at $15.99.
Tomatoland combines history, legend, passion for taste, and investigative reporting on modern agribusiness and environmental issues into a revealing, controversial look at the tomato, the fruit we love so much that we eat $4 billion-worth annually. It is the 2012 IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Award Winner in the Food Matters category. For more information on the book.
Nominations - 2014-15
We are now seeking nominations for Fall - Spring 2014-15. Deadline for nominations is December 2nd, 2013. The Common Read committee is seeking nominations of books, regardless of genre, that accomplishes the following:
- Promotes engagement on a topic relevant to the university community and especially incoming first-year students. The topic should be of broad interest across the university community.
- Given the breadth of audience, the book should be accessible, enjoyable, engaging, yet challenging.
- Provides an opportunity to inspire students intellectually to learn, engage and lead, to take “ownership” of their University of Idaho educational experience in critical and creative ways.
- Provides diverse points of view, experiences, or other content that would promote sustained discussion.
- Provides multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspective, allowing students, staff and faculty from differing academic disciplines to find points of intellectual convergence and integration as they address the topic of the book.
- Addresses the five ISEM 101 Integrated Seminar Learning Outcomes. See "Resources for Faculty" and "Related Links."
- With a broad topic, holds the possibility that the title might be adopted as a textbook as an ISEM 301 Great Issues seminar.
- Holds the possibility that the author of the book (or someone closely associated with the book) would come to the Moscow campus and give a keynote address or presentation on the book.
- Presentations given in association with the Common Read would be free and open to the public.
Past selections have included works of fiction, history, race and culture, economics, and political discourse. See Past Common Reads
If you have a book in mind, please send your nomination to commonread@uidaho.edu. Include in your nomination a synopsis of why you think this book is appropriate for the Common Read, addressing each of the criteria listed above. Also include: Book Title, Author, Publisher, Year Published, Paperback Option, Cost, Awards, Name of nominator and contact information.