This article was originally published in the Sept. 24 edition of the Enterprise-Record.

By CHRIS GULLICK

It's not too late to join a reading group for the town-and-gown-declared Book in Common program — a movement to encourage people in the community to read the same book and use it as common grounds for discussion.

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Besides the city and university, other organizations have joined in creating and encouraging the program as a community-building movement, including Butte College, Chico Unified School District, Butte County libraries, the Enterprise-Record and others.

About 40 people met Tuesday afternoon at Chico State University, to form reading groups that would meet and talk about the book during the next couple of months.

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This article was originally published in the Sept. 19 edition of the Enterprise-Record.

By CHRIS GULLICK - Staff Writer

CHICO -- A group of Chico organizations is urging the whole community to join in a metaphoric tea-brewing and tea-steeping experience, and a literal, literary endeavor to unite the community — the Book in Common program.

Mayor Andy Holcombe launched the program Thursday with a proclamation — "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time," by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, will be Chico's official 2008-09 Book in Common.

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Here is the introduction to an editorial published in the Thurs., Sept. 18 edition of the Enterprise-Record.

Think of the joy of discussing a good book with a friend.

Now think of the joy of being able to have that discussion with anyone and everyone in the community. That's what local literature lovers are dreaming about. An organizing committee that includes representatives from Chico State University, Butte College, Chico Unified School District, the Butte County Library, the Enterprise-Record, Enloe Medical Center, Lyon Books and others wants to have a region-wide discussion about a remarkable book called "Three Cups of Tea."

The book is about the importance of education, compassion and philanthropy, and how a single person can accomplish remarkable things.

The nonfiction book is about Greg Mortenson, who found himself lost and physically drained in an impoverished village in northern Pakistan after his failed attempt to climb K2, the world's second-tallest peak.

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This article was originally published in the Sept. 13 edition of the Enterprise-Record.

By CHRIS GULLICK - Staff Writer

CHICO -- Book-lovers are calling the community to City Plaza at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, for the official kick-off of the Book in Common, a program that aims to build community spirit by encouraging everyone to read a single book and talk about it.

After a proclamation is read by Mayor Andy Holcombe declaring "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin the Book in Common for the city for 2008-09, local actors and students will read parts of the book to the audience.

The program started about eight years ago at Chico State University, but this year it's spread and caught the enthusiasm of other groups, such as Butte College, the Butte County Public Library, Chico Unified School District, Enloe Medical Center and local citizens and book clubs.

Chico State President Paul Zingg described the program in his convocation speech Aug. 21 as "a year-long effort to read, think and be active in the causes of peace, compassion and social justice that the book encourages."

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This article was originally published in Aug. 31 edition of the Enterprise-Record.

By CHRIS GULLICK - Staff Writer

CHICO — A program that originally targeted Chico State University's in-coming freshmen is being expanded to draw in the whole community, encouraging everyone to read a single book and engage in conversations about it.

But the Chico Unified School District teachers who want to incorporate the Book in Common program in their courses have met a roadblock: The district can't afford to supply them books because of its budget crisis.

The organizers would like to see community service groups or citizens help out by adopting a class to supply with books or donating individual copies for students or others to use.

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This article was originally published in the Fall 2008 Student Handbook.

Chico State University's Book in Common program, which began in fall of 2000, encourages freshmen to read a particular book in the summer before arriving at school. Then, in theory, they would discuss the book in gatherings at residence halls and teachers would incorporate it into their course work.

Students receive information about the program when they visit the campus during summer orientations and are advised to read the book, explained William Loker, dean of undergraduate education. One year students were actually given the book.

This year's selection, "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, relates Mortenson's 10-year drive to build schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mortenson himself will visit Chico State April 21 for a free lecture at Laxson Auditorium.

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