Program History

SJSU's Campus Reading Program was launched in 2005 in response to a call from the Academic Senate to build a culture of reading at SJSU [pdf]. Each year since then, a volunteer group of faculty and staff have selected a book that the entire campus is encouraged to read and discuss. Small group discussions and special events help extend the conversation throughout the academic year. 

Beginning with Barbara Ehrenrich’s Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, the SJSU campus reading program has featured a diverse array of authors, including Khaled Hosseini, ZZ Packer, Sherman Alexie, Sonia Sotomayor, Dave Eggers, and Bryan Stevenson. A complete list of books selected appears below.

The SJSU’s campus reading program remains committed to fostering campus-wide discussion about critical issues, particularly those that relate to social justice, equity, and inclusion. We hope that you will join us by reading this year’s book and participating in the exciting events we have planned!

2024
The Displaced. Viet Thanh Nguyen.

2023
Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Adib Khorran.

2022
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Katharine K. Wilkinson.

2021
Citizen: An American Lyric. Claudia Rankine.

2020
What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.

2019
Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream. Joshua Davis. 

2018
The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World. John Carlos, Dave Zirin.

2017
Hotdogs and Hamburgers: Unlocking Life's Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age.  Rob Shindler.

2016
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Bryan Stevenson. 

True American: Murder and Mystery in Texas. Anand Giridharas. (spring book)

2015
The Circle. Dave Eggers.

2014
My Beloved World. Sonia Sotomayor.

2013
Escape from Camp 14. Blaine Harden.

2012
Little Princes. Conor Grennan.

2011
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca Skloot.

2010
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Sherman Alexie.

2009
Color of the Sea. John Hamamura.

2008
Water for Elephants. Sara Gruen.

2007
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere. ZZ Packer.

2006
The Kite Runner. Khaled Hosseini.

2005
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Barbara Ehrenreich.