A number of you wanted to see the full list of suggestions for summer, pre-freshman year reading. I have put up a temporary page with the list:
http://www.purchase.edu/Departments/AcademicPrograms/LAS/Sciences/EnvStu dies/environmentalsummerreading.aspx Thanks to everyone who contributed. GPK George P. Kraemer Associate Professor Chair, Environmental Studies Purchase College 914-251-6640 (o) ________________________________ From: Kraemer, George Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 9:15 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Umd. Edu ([email protected]) Subject: Summer environmental with an ecologic FOLLOW-UP I have received 31 suggestions thusfar (I will post the final list). But I want to clarify the search a little. When I look at the list I see many great books. Most of them, however, probably will not work for freshmen-to-be with a diverse range of interests (e.g., math, sociology, art history, drama studies). I loved Song of the Dodo, but it's a little much for most of the target audience. I think fiction is likely to have greater traction with the typical 17 y.o., but maybe there isn't enough out there that meets the requirements of attention-keeping and environmental message? Non-fiction could work, if it were something compelling and "relatable" like Freese's Coal: A Human History, or one of Kurlanksy's or Safina's books. Think like a teen-ager... at least about what makes a good read. George P. Kraemer Associate Professor Chair, Environmental Studies Purchase College 914-251-6640 (o) ________________________________ From: Kraemer, George Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 8:34 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Umd. Edu ([email protected]) Subject: summer reading with an ecologic/environmental theme Our campus theme next year will be "environment." Although it's defined broadly enough to include all constituencies, it presents the opportunity to reach about 500 freshmen with a back-door campaign of environmental literacy. I am soliciting the ECOLOG group for suggestions for pre-college summer reading with an environmental theme. It would have to be something that would capture the minds of 17-18 year olds, and should lend itself to discussions that might allow diverse discipline to have a say. Barbara Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer" or Michael Pollan's books came first to mind. But there must be other things out there that I've missed. Since this might be of interest to others, please respond to the list. GPK George P. Kraemer Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology Chair, Environmental Studies Program Purchase College (SUNY)
