The One Book/One College program is in its second year at CSN, aimed at fostering a sense of community, creativity, and conversation through the mutual study of a common reading. For the 2017-18 academic year, the chosen book is Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

English instructor Kody Lightfoot, chair of the program, says, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an incredible story of the first immortal cell line, the African American woman from whom the cells were taken, and her family’s struggles with the aftermath. It’s an intriguing cross-disciplinary blend of science, ethics, morality, race, history, and gender, which is why instructors from Biology, English, Communication, and Philosophy have found the book useful in their classrooms.”

There are several ways you can get involved in the One Book/One College program this Fall and Spring (2018) semester:

• Visit CSN’s One Book/One College website for a list of events such as book discussions, film screenings, hikes and festivals scheduled to enhance the reading experience and promote further conversation and connections.
• If you’re an instructor, consider teaching The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (or parts of the book) in your course. You can contact Kody Lighfoot (kody.lightfoot@csn.edu) for more information.
• Use our library guide to see where you can check out a copy of the book and link to other resources such as films, articles, websites and lesson plans.