The very first book ever chosen for "One Book One" Chicago was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in 2001. Since that time, the city, as a community, has read more than a dozen titles together. New titles are announced twice a year. Here are the last ten most recently selected for One Book, One Chicago and why they were chosen.
Review a Complete List of All Books Chosen for One Book, One Chicago
Review a Complete List of All Books Chosen for One Book, One Chicago
1. The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of an American City
Author: Carl Smith
Date Chosen: Fall 2009
Why Chosen: "This book is essential to understanding our city’s evolution from prairie, to industrial hub, to the city we know today. Smith gives remarkable insight into the need for and creation of such an ambitious plan for our city in 1909, a plan now regarded as landmark in the history of urban planning."
Date Chosen: Fall 2009
Why Chosen: "This book is essential to understanding our city’s evolution from prairie, to industrial hub, to the city we know today. Smith gives remarkable insight into the need for and creation of such an ambitious plan for our city in 1909, a plan now regarded as landmark in the history of urban planning."
2. The House on Mango Street
Author: Sandra Cisneros
Chosen: Spring 2009
Why Chosen: "The beauty of the story, to me, is that while this young girl searches for a 'home' of her own somewhere in the world, she fully appreciates her family and neighbors and understands that they will always be a part of who she is. I think that is what all of us feel about Chicago, that no matter where we go, this city is always a part of us." -- Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey
Chosen: Spring 2009
Why Chosen: "The beauty of the story, to me, is that while this young girl searches for a 'home' of her own somewhere in the world, she fully appreciates her family and neighbors and understands that they will always be a part of who she is. I think that is what all of us feel about Chicago, that no matter where we go, this city is always a part of us." -- Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey
3. The Right Stuff
Author: Tom Wolfe
Chosen: Fall 2008
Why Chosen: "As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of NASA and the kickoff of Science Chicago, a year-long celebration of science, this book is a perfect choice to remind us how much can be achieved by those with the vision and the courage to take on a challenge such as literally ‘shooting for the moon’. We hope all Chicagoans will enjoy reading this compelling, yet human, account of the men who first ventured into space. We are excited to highlight Tom Wolfe’s work of ‘new journalism’ and proud to be presenting him with the Carl Sandburg Literary Award at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s dinner in October.” --Chicago Public Library Board of Directors President Jayne Carr Thompson
Chosen: Fall 2008
Why Chosen: "As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of NASA and the kickoff of Science Chicago, a year-long celebration of science, this book is a perfect choice to remind us how much can be achieved by those with the vision and the courage to take on a challenge such as literally ‘shooting for the moon’. We hope all Chicagoans will enjoy reading this compelling, yet human, account of the men who first ventured into space. We are excited to highlight Tom Wolfe’s work of ‘new journalism’ and proud to be presenting him with the Carl Sandburg Literary Award at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s dinner in October.” --Chicago Public Library Board of Directors President Jayne Carr Thompson
4. The Long Goodbye
Author: Raymond Chandler
Chosen: Spring 2008
Why Chosen: "We hope Chicagoans will enjoy this American classic about a fast talking, hard nosed private detective who finds himself caught in a complex story filled with characters who are trapped between the life they have, and the life they want." -- Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary A. Dempsey.
Chosen: Spring 2008
Why Chosen: "We hope Chicagoans will enjoy this American classic about a fast talking, hard nosed private detective who finds himself caught in a complex story filled with characters who are trapped between the life they have, and the life they want." -- Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary A. Dempsey.
5. The Crucible
Author: Arthur Miller
Chosen: Fall 2007
Why Chosen: "More than 50 years ago, Arthur Miller wrote a wonderful play that raised important questions about fear, persecution and truth -- issues that have always been debated passionately." --Mayor Richard M. Daley
Chosen: Fall 2007
Why Chosen: "More than 50 years ago, Arthur Miller wrote a wonderful play that raised important questions about fear, persecution and truth -- issues that have always been debated passionately." --Mayor Richard M. Daley
6. Go Tell It on the Mountain
Author: James Baldwin
Chosen: Spring 2007
Why Chosen: "This is an especially good pick, because James Baldwin was one of the finest American writers of the twentieth century. This is an opportunity for Chicago's reading public to become better acquainted with a very influential writer, who used the power of fiction to describe the African-American experience during the 20th century. Even though the book was published more than 50 years ago, it explores issues that will resonate with today's readers - issues of racism, religion and father-son relationships. I think it's going to lead to some interesting discussions among people of all ages and backgrounds." -- Mayor Richard M. Daley
Chosen: Spring 2007
Why Chosen: "This is an especially good pick, because James Baldwin was one of the finest American writers of the twentieth century. This is an opportunity for Chicago's reading public to become better acquainted with a very influential writer, who used the power of fiction to describe the African-American experience during the 20th century. Even though the book was published more than 50 years ago, it explores issues that will resonate with today's readers - issues of racism, religion and father-son relationships. I think it's going to lead to some interesting discussions among people of all ages and backgrounds." -- Mayor Richard M. Daley
7. Interpeter of Maladies
Author: by Jhumpa Lahiri
Chosen: Fall 2006
Why Chosen: “Almost all of us are immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, and I think many of the stories will have a familiar ring. These stories also remind us that immigrants are just like native-born citizens. They fall in and out of love, laugh and cry, make friends and enemies, and sometimes have trouble creating a place that feels like home.” -- Mayor Richard M. Daley
Chosen: Fall 2006
Why Chosen: “Almost all of us are immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, and I think many of the stories will have a familiar ring. These stories also remind us that immigrants are just like native-born citizens. They fall in and out of love, laugh and cry, make friends and enemies, and sometimes have trouble creating a place that feels like home.” -- Mayor Richard M. Daley
8. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Author: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Chosen: Spring 2006
Why Chosen: "This is a very powerful book. It describes one man’s struggle, not only to survive horrible living conditions, but also to retain a sense of self. It has been heralded as the most realistic description of the Gulag, and it speaks for the nearly 20 million Soviet citizens who worked in mines, cut down trees, dug canals and built railroads, factories and cities under forced labor." --Mayor Richard M. Daley
9. Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Chosen: Fall 2005
Why Chosen: "Pride and Prejudice is about courtship and marriage in late-18th Century England and it deals with the same topics that interest us today: money, family relationships, social obligations and personal integrity. Almost everyone who reads Pride and Prejudice enjoys Jane Austen’s style and wit, and especially her interesting characters, some of whom will probably remind you of people you know." --Mayor Richard M. Daley
Chosen: Fall 2005
Why Chosen: "Pride and Prejudice is about courtship and marriage in late-18th Century England and it deals with the same topics that interest us today: money, family relationships, social obligations and personal integrity. Almost everyone who reads Pride and Prejudice enjoys Jane Austen’s style and wit, and especially her interesting characters, some of whom will probably remind you of people you know." --Mayor Richard M. Daley
10. The Ox-Bow Incident
Author: Walter Van Tilburg Clark
Chosen: Spring 2005
Why Chosen: “Our goal is always to select a book that will inspire passionate discussion. The Ox-Bow Incident will introduce a whole new group of readers to the American Western and prompt discussion about integrity and human nature.” --Acting Commissioner Karen Danczak Lyons