The Common Read program, offered at ASU’s West Valley campus, offers incoming freshman students an opportunity to connect with their fellow students through a shared reading.
Founded in 2012, the ASU West Valley campus Common Read program has attracted authors such as Ernest Cline (“Ready Player One”), Adam Braun (“Promise of a Pencil”), and Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton: The Revolution”) to ASU’s West Valley campus.
What is Common Read?
The Common Read is a book selected by committee that the entire first year students at ASU West Valley campus read. The intent is to engage and stir the minds of our students. With all the students reading the same book it fosters student growth. The books may require students to question their belief system, relate to others and build community.
Goals of Common Read
- Intellectual engagement
- Community engagement
How is the Common Read selected?
There is a committee made up of staff, faculty and students from all the colleges represented at the ASU West Valley campus who undergo the selection process.
Selection timeline
Early fall semester
- Common Read committee members seek text suggestions from campus stakeholders.
- The committee then ranks the top five texts.
Mid to late fall semester
- A campus wide survey is administered to select the following academic year's common read.
Early spring
- Upcoming common read is announced.
Later spring and summer
- Upcoming common read events and programs planned by the committee.
History of Common Read
| Year | Author | Book | Speaker |
| 2009 | Freakanomics | ||
| 2010 | In Defense of Food | ||
| 2011 | Wes Moore | The Other West Moore | Wes Moore |
| 2012 | Ishmael Beah | A Long Way Gone | Ishmael Beah |
| 2013 | Marjane Satrapi | Persepolis | Allison Beckdel |
| 2014 | Joy Harjo | Crazy Brave | Joy Harjo, Winona LaDuke |
| 2015 | Adam Braun | Promise of a Pencil | Adam Braun |
| 2016 | Ernest Cline | Ready Player One | Ernest Cline |
| 2017 | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Hamilton Play (Script) | Leslie Odom, Jr. |
| 2018 | David Levithan | Everyday | David Levithan |
| 2019 | Dan Gediman | This I Believe: Life lessons | Dan Gediman |
| 2020 | Bill Burnett | Designing Your Life | Bill Burnett |
| 2021 | Celeste Headlee | We Need to Talk | Celeste Headlee |
| 2022 | Natalie Eve Garrett | The Artists' and Writers' Cookbook | No Speaker: Student Recipe Submission "Feast" |
| 2024 | Inc. Historical League | Tastes and Treasures: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona |