We are currently accepting book nominations for the Fall Community Read!

The Simmons Community/First Year Read is designed to engage the campus community, generate robust discussions, and foster the exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives. The program takes place during the fall semester. Incoming first-year undergraduates receive a digital copy of the book and discuss it during their first-year seminar course, Simmons Explore.

If you are interested in recommending a book for the Community Read, fill out the Community Read Book Nomination Form. Nominations should consider the following criteria:

1. May be fiction, nonfiction, or memoir
2. Has the potential to engage students, faculty, staff, and alumnae/i from different disciplines and backgrounds
3. Explores themes and topics that may be relevant to first year undergraduates
4. Illuminates broad social, environmental, and/or cultural topics
5. Encourages reflection and discussion in a variety of courses and contexts
6. Invites readers to consider topics from diverse perspectives

Books written by authors of color, women-identified, non-binary, or underrepresented authors are strongly encouraged. We do not consider recommendations for books with heavy partisan politics.

Previous authors have included:

2023: HOW TO BREAK UP WITH YOUR PHONE by Catherine Price