Book Group Resources

• For existing book groups(Quick resources)
• Form a book group (Building a community, setting the groundwork, the meeting)
• Introduce your friends to the Lawrence Difference

 

For existing book groups

Quick resources:

• Voyager for Alumni - add members to your group by finding contact information for Lawrence Alumni - maybe even members of your Freshman Studies Class! You can search by region, class, or name-by-name.


• Selected Works - reading guides for five long-standing Freshman Studies works


• Freshman Studies - link to the current Freshman Studies website with reading lists and lectures from the past ten years


• Lawrence Faculty Recommendations - for books beyond the Freshman Studies curriculum


• Reading Group Guides - an online community for reading groups


• Reading Group Choices - another online community for reading groups


• Shelfari - a website for individuals or groups to create a virtual bookshelf, get and give recommendations for books


• Google - search for background information or discussion questions on your current work


• Amazon.com - purchase (or repurchase) Freshman Studies works

Submit a helpful hint, a photo of your LU book group, or a website for other Book Groups (we'll post them as they come in)

Form a Book Group

Building a Community
An important part of the Freshman Studies experience is discussing the works with others. Use Voyager for Alumni to find contact information for Lawrence alumni - maybe even members of your Freshman Studies class! You can search by region, class, or name-by-name. Or, ask co-workers or friends if they would like to participate. As in Freshman Studies, a variety of viewpoints and backgrounds can make for interesting conversation.

When considering who to involve in your group, you will want to keep in mind the level of commitment you expect from members. Is it important that all members carefully read all the works, and be ready to engage in deep discussion each time (some groups even require members to write papers!), or is your focus on casual conversation, even if members are not always able to complete the reading?

Setting the Groundwork
Once you have formed your group, decide how often you would like to meet. Many groups meet once a month, but at busy times of year, members may want to meet less often, or study shorter works such as poetry. Meeting in person is also not necessary; consider e-mail or telephone discussions for friends that are far away.

Discuss how you will choose works to study. Does your group want to study only Freshman Studies works, or are they open to other works? Will each member have appointed times to choose works, or will the group decide as a whole based on suggestions from individuals? Some book groups plan their reading list a full year in advance, and some take it book-by-book.

The Meeting
It is helpful to choose a discussion leader for each meeting who might research and provide background, print discussion questions and facilitate the conversation. You might also consider incorporating movies, lectures, or other media as supplemental material.

Visit the Selected Works page on this website for detailed reading guides and lectures about select Freshman Studies works. The current Freshman Studies website has lectures from the past ten years of Freshman Studies. There are also a variety of book group websites with discussion questions (some are listed above). Or, do a Google search on your selected work to find more information.

 

Introduce your friends to the Lawrence Difference

Freshman Studies is just one of the programs that make Lawrence unique. Know someone considering colleges? Make the process easier and less expensive by waiving the application fee! Contact Seth Harris or Jen England in the admissions office for a waiver card. Lawrence gets a great applicant, you get to share your alma mater with your friends.

Charting an uncommon course in higher education for more than 160 years, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education.  It ranks among the nation’s best small, private colleges, and was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.”  The development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience, where classes or creative and research projects tailored to students' educational interests and life objectives are prevalent.  Lawrence draws its 1,400 students from 43 states and 50 countries.  Its picturesque, residential campus is nestled on the banks of the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin.  For more information about Lawrence University visit www.lawrence.edu.