Welcome to the Common Reading Program
About This Year’s Book
How the Other Half Eats explores the many ways that food—and access to food—underscores issues of social inequality in American society. It was published in 2021 by Little, Brown Spark, and is authored by sociologist and ethnographer Priya Fielding-Singh. She is a senior manager of research and education at the Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Introduction of the Book
Getting Copies of How the Other Half Eats
This Common Reading book will be used by students in classes at WSU Pullman, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, and Global campuses. Students will receive a copy near the start of fall classes on their campus.
First-year WSU Pullman students will get their copies at their residence halls; those not living in residence halls will receive an email with instructions on picking up their copy in Lighty 160, the Academic Success and Career Center main office.
Instructors teaching classes for first-year students, and planning to use the book as a text, can receive a desk copy. Staff considering using the book as the basis for one or more events or programs that would be geared toward engaging first-year students may also request a university-purchased paperback copy.
Recent News
WSU Common Reading Invited Lecture Oct. 15 Features Author Priya Fielding-Singh
WSU Common Reading Accepting Desk Copy Requests for 2024-25 Book
Browse all of our news headlines.
About the Common Reading Program
Designed to connect students to their university community, the Common Reading Program at WSU is starting its 18th year.
Thousands of first-year and additional students have used the book—or topics from it—in their classes, prompting academic discussions with their faculty, interactions with staff and students in their residence halls, and participation at special events.
The program emphasizes experiential opportunities for students to hear speakers and engage with topics related to the book. Many programs are already in place for students to attend or engage in this year, thanks to partnerships with many units across the university. Check the calendar for Common Reading-hosted listings, and Coug Presence for Common Reading plus partner-hosted listings.
What Is a “Common Reading?”
Our program is formed around the concept of a “common reading”—a single book chosen for all incoming first-year students to read. A common reading is one way to create community connections among students, and between students and their professors, residence hall staff, and others. Topics in a selected book are examined throughout the year by members of the university community, sparking academic conversations in and beyond classrooms, highlighting WSU research and the diversity of ideas across disciplines, and introducing different ways to explore complex issues from a variety of perspectives.
Program Impact
Robust common reading programming throughout the year includes expert guest lectures, stimulating events, film showings, and much more. In 2021-22, for example, the Common Reading Program…
- Hosted and collaborated with 19 other campus units system-wide to provide 92 virtual and in-person events, more than double the number of previous years.
- Students can typically select from three to five events per week to enhance their knowledge relating to book topics, and often earn extra course credit for attendance.
