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TO:

One Campus, One Book Committee

FROM:

Marile Franco, ENC 3250 Professional Writing Student

DATE:

February 8, 2016

SUBJECT:

Request Reply for One Book, One Campus Recommendations

This is a reply to your request for providing the One Book, One Campus (OBOC)
Committee with a recommendation report.
I have researched the University of Richmond OBOC choice, and believe the three
potential books I am suggesting will have a unifying impact for first year students in fall
2016. They are listed in the following table:
Author, Title

Publisher,
Publication
Date

ISBN

Cost/Number of Pages

Brief Summary

Neil Postman,

Penguin
Group,
1985

978-014303653-1

$12.42

Amusing Ourselves to
Death deals with the
growing addiction and
demand society has
with entertainment. It
touches on the
psychology behind
show business and the
dangerous path society
is headed if no
conscious awareness of
it is raised. Regaining
control of current
media can prevent
future corrosive effects
of it.

The Great
Books
Foundation
, 2006

094515949-8

$24.95

Amusing
Ourselves to
Death

Adam Davis
and Elizabeth
Lynn,
The Civically
Engaged
Reader

184 pages

325 pages

The Civically Engaged


Reader is a collection
of various voices
throughout time, which
deals with civic
engagement and
service. The readings
vary, in terms of
philosophy, religion
and literature, but offer
questions and answers
to help inspire and

bring about change.


Sherry Turkle,
Reclaiming
Conversation

Penguin
Press, 2015

978-159420555-2

$27.95
436 pages

Reclaiming
Conversation touches
on the current
problems humans face
by only engaging with
one another through
technological means.
By using technology to
communicate, we risk
losing human traits
such as empathy, and
can become more
disconnected than
connected. This book
is not anti-technology
but instead proconversation, and aims
to take back face-toface conversation.

Beginning with Amusing Ourselves to Death, it would raise awareness as to how media
impacts the daily lives of those using it. By focusing on the shift in oral culture to media
and technology, it can impact how future students use media. Its philosophical
perspectives can also offer students critical thinking skills.
The second book I have offered, The Civically Engaged Reader, provides readers the
writings of important historical leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. It provides diverse
leadership and service perspectives, which can help aid in the development of students
civic engagement. The readings raise question and provide insight for effective service. It
also helps to make for informed and engaged citizens which are essential to the
creation of a civil and sustainable society, which comes from the F.G.C.U. vision,
mission, and guiding principles.
Lastly, Reclaiming Conversation offers insight on how connecting through technology
with one another is not as effective as face-to-face conversation. She goes into promoting
a shift in communication from digital to face-to-face, which can help future students be
more personal and connected to one another than virtually alone. This shift can promote
more involvement on campus and a greater sense of community at the university. This is
an engaging read, which I believe students will enjoy because it also has famous
comedian commentaries throughout.
These three books I have recommended fit the parameters of the first-year reading project
and the Universitys guiding principles, and offer insight on the importance of human
interaction in terms of conversation, service, and how it is impacted by technology. I

believe these topics hold potential for future, engaged in-class discussions and help
students develop the skills they need to succeed.

Bibliography
Alred, Gerald J., Charles T. Brusaw and Walter E. Oliu. The Business Writer's
Companion. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014.
Davis, Adam and Elizabeth Lynn. The Civically Engaged Reader. Chicago: The Great
Books Foundation, 2006.
FGCU Board of Trustees; The Deans Council. Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles. 6
August 2015. 2 February 2016 <http://www.fgcu.edu/info/mission.asp>.
Indiana University Northwest. One Book One Campus One Community. 4 February 2016
<http://www.iun.edu/onebook/>.
Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York: Penguin Group, 1985.
Turkle, Sherry. Reclaiming Conversation. New York: Penguin Press, 2015.
University of Richmond. One Book, One Richmond. 4 February 2016
<http://chaplaincy.richmond.edu/programs/one-book/>.

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