The University announced the Common Book for the 2017 school year will be The Circle by Dave Eggers.
The Common Book: One Book One Auburn program began in Fall 2010 as a means to provide unity and a common educational experience to incoming freshmen.
Students are encouraged to read the book prior to the school year so they may recognize and understand the ways it applied to Welcome Week, academic classes and various programs.
Each year, the chosen author is invited to speak at Auburn to the campus and local community and participate in a book-signing. This the program prepares to bring Eggers to campus in September.
“We are looking forward to having Mr. Eggers here to lead us in a discussion of these very issues and push us into thinking about the ramifications of the digital era,” Common Book Coordinator Paige Busby said.
Busby said there are two main evaluation taken in to consideration when choosing the annual Common Book, timeliness and relevance of the book’s message.
“[We find] stories which reinforce the key elements of the Auburn Creed while developing connections to current events and global challenges” Busby said.
“We always have a number of books in the running, and many we consider and re-consider each year,” Busby said.
The committee takes into account the success of the previous year’s book, the themes involved and the reactions of students, faculty, staff and the Auburn community.
“We are always open to suggestions and nominations for future book titles, and we take those nominations seriously as part of the assessment process," Busby said.
Provost Timothy Boosinger’s official announcement of the 2017-18 book recognizes The Circle not only for meeting the qualifications desired, but author, Dave Eggers for exhibiting these qualities in his lifework through his 826 National non-profit work.
The Common Book committee was chosen for this year’s book for many reasons Busby explains.
“The [committee] always wanted to delve into fiction, and our recent partnership with the Auburn Public Library has given us the renewed passion," Busby said.
The themes within the fiction novel are immensely relevant, Busby said, due to its timing during the digital age.
“It is an era of great innovation but also of severe anxiety when it comes to technological dependence,” Busby said.
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