Keynote Event Featuring Author Nick Carr to Highlight ESU’s One Book, One Campus Discussions for Campus and Community

Photo Caption: Nicholas Carr will be the keynote speaker for ESU’s One Book One Campus book discussion on Wednesday, October 26.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is having a conversation about technology and social media. The book “The Circle” was the university’s selection for its fourth annual One Book, One Campus initiative. The novel, written by David Eggers, is an engaging read about a fictional future and the power of social media. It was selected by a committee of students, faculty and staff because it is relatable and offers a unique perspective about the power of technology. What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

The theme of this year’s One Book, One Campus shared reading initiative is the impact of social media on today’s society. It’s for that reason that ESU invited Nicholas Carr to be the guest speaker for the keynote book discussion event on Wednesday, October 26. Carr is a compelling writer and speaker whose work focuses on the intersection of technology and culture. A journalist by trade, he is the author of the acclaimed book “The Glass Cage: How Our Computers Are Changing Us” (2014) and “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains” (2010), which focus on topics that align with this year’s theme. Carr’s latest book, “Utopia Is Creepy: And Other Provocations” was published on September 6. It uses a collection of Carr’s seminal essays to further explore the Internet’s impact on society. Carr’s presentation is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts. The event is free of charge and open to the general public.

To encourage further engagement about “The Circle” and the power of social media and technology, Peter Pruim, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and chair of the One Book committee, has called upon faculty and staff at ESU to create book discussions surrounding the book and theme. Seven book discussions will be held on campus through November. “The program invites all members of the ESU community – students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni – to read the same book together and focus on critical thinking,” Dr. Pruim said. “In addition, the hope is to encourage reflective conversations –across the disciplines and with all in our community – thereby enhancing campus unity.”

The events, which began in September, are open to anyone from the campus or local communities and are intended to spark conversations about technology and social media.

Copies of the One Book, One Campus selection are available for purchase at esu.edu/onebook or in the University Bookstore located on Normal Street in East Stroudsburg.

The schedule and topics for the One Book discussions for the semester follow:

• Wednesday, October 5, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Beers Lecture Hall
  “The Impact of Social Media on Intercollegiate Athletics”
  Josh Looney, director of athletics, will discuss the impact of social media on collegiate athletics.

• Tuesday, October 18, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Beers Lecture Hall
  “Why Is Everyone Creeping on Me?”
  Dr. Andi McClanahan, professor of communication, will explore the impact of having cameras in every hand.

• Wednesday, October 26, 7:00 p.m.
  Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts
  Guest Speaker, Nicholas Carr

• Wednesday, November 9, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  Beers Lecture Hall
  “OK, Start Talking”
  Dr. Peter Pruim, professor of philosophy, will discuss reclaiming conversation in a world of screens.

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