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First Year Common Reading: Common Reading Program

A central hub for information about the First-Year common reading. Connect to resources, themes, and events.

Selection Process

The process to select a First Year Common Reading begins with a call to nominate texts.  A volunteer Task Force with students, faculty, and staff narrows down nominees to a group of semi-finalists.  Next, a campus-wide vote identifies 2-3 finalists.  Finally, First Year Program instructors decide to use one or more of these texts with the next class of first-year students.

 

Information about previous First Year Common Readings follows below.

The Other Wes Moore (2017-18)

The Manhattanville Common Reading for 2017-18 wasThe Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore.

Information about the book is available at the publisher's web site here:  http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/116877/the-other-wes-moore-by-wes-moore/9780385528207/

Frankenstein (2016-17)

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was the campus common reading for 2016-17.

The version assigned in courses was the Second Norton Critical Edition. 

Below is a BBC video about the book from the Films on Demand library database.

 

A Cup of Water under My Bed (2022-24)

Follow this link for more information on A Cup of Water Under My Bed as a first-year common reading.

The Hate U Give (2019-21)

Designing Your Life (2018-19)

The common reading for 2018-19 was Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.

Here is the official web site:  http://designingyour.life/