SNHU Common Book Program

This year’s book is "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress" by Dai Sijie.

The Common Book initiative at SNHU provides students with the opportunity to join their peers and professors in a common reading experience and in the pleasure of talking about books.

Freshmen receive the selected book at summer orientation with the expectation that they will read in advance of their arrival on campus in September. Their SNHU 101 class incorporates the book into the curriculum as an introduction to the intellectual climate and culture of the college community. Students will have an option to extend their discussion in wider campus events during the school year.

In addition, the University sponsors an annual essay contest for freshmen on topics provided them at orientation. This contest is optional for students. It offers a prize to the winner of a $1,000 scholarship and the honor of being recognized and serving on the Common Book Committee, which will select the book for the following year.

SNHU staff at the Manchester campus may pick up their copies of this year’s Common Book from the Student Affairs Office in the Student Center. Faculty members may get their copies from the Academic Affairs Office in Robert Frost Hall.