Author Description

Hundreds of American colleges and universities assign a summer reading to entering freshmen—usually one book, which is often un-academic and politically progressive. For many students, this is the only book they will read in common with their classmates. Colleges rarely assign classic texts: the common reading genre is parochial, contemporary, and progressive. This year, Beach Books focuses on the administrative structure of common reading programs that hard-wires progressive book selections, and makes detailed suggestions for administrative reforms. Our study of common readings covers 348 colleges and universities for the academic year 2016–2017.