2010 Common Reading Program Selection: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

by Jill Lingard

This year’s Common Reading Program selection is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. The book chronicles the inspiring story of Kamkwamba as he designs and builds his own windmill to generate electricity for his home in Malawi. Using rummaged mechanical parts from a nearby dump and diagrams from decades-old textbooks, he perseveres through ridicule from villagers and a devastating famine to power more than light bulbs. Kamkwamba brings hope and imagination to his family, his village, and now to the world through his story.

The Common Reading Program is designed to provide all first-year students with a common intellectual experience to stimulate discussion, critical thinking, and encourage a sense of community among students, faculty and staff. Each year, the book is chosen by a committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students who are charged with selecting a book that is interdisciplinary, global, recently published, and relevant to both first-year students and the UF community.

The Dean of Students Office has posted information about the book and related resources on the Common Reading Program website. Last fall, Kamkwamba was interviewed by The Daily Show’s host Jon Stewart. An 8-minute video clip of the interview is posted on the DSO’s site and should provide an entertaining ‘hook’ to encourage students to read the book. DSO staff will continue to update their site throughout the summer with discussion guides, class activity ideas, and campus events related to the book during Summer B and Fall terms. Similar to last year, the author will address all first-year students at convocation in the O’Connell Center on August 20.

School of Business advisors are holding their annual book club during the Summer A session to read the book as a group and discuss how it might be woven through their Warrington First-Year Experience classes. They welcome campus-wide instructors of First Year Florida to join them on Fridays from 8:15-9:15 a.m. in 232 Bryan Hall. Here is our reading schedule:

May 21: Pages 1-61

May 28: Pages 62-113

June 4: Pages 114-167

June 11: Pages 168-210

June 18: Pages 211-270 

Readers can choose to attend one, some, or all of the meetings. There will be no pop quizzes. Coffee, breakfast snacks, and engaging dialogue will be served!