Cisler Division Books

CISLER DIVISION – Round 1

MATCHUP #1

A Deadly Wandering

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Book title: A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, A Landmark Investigation, & the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age

Book author(s)/editor(s): Matt Richtel

Paperback price: $8

416 pages

Other formats available:

  • Audible audiobook: Yes
  • CD audiobook: Yes
  • Kindle: Yes

Used as common read elsewhere?

Unknown

Why do you think the LSSU Campus should read this book? How will it build community? start conversations? encourage social engagement? empower critical thinking?

Distracted driving is a common issue effecting all our students. The book may open eyes and thus get students talking. I believe it is controversial as a landmark case in prosecution in type of accident and it is affecting someone their own age and so they may be able to relate to the book and what happens.

What kinds of campus programs do you imagine could be offered if this book was chosen as the LSSU Campus Read?

I think this book could fit into law enforcement, psychology and social science courses, along with medical courses. Speakers could be brought in about distracted driving, how the brain works, how the digital age is affecting our brains to name a few.

Anything else you would like to add to support choosing this book as the next LSSU Campus Read title?

I have not read the book but if has been used by a number of other schools as their common read book.

VERSUS

The Circle

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Book title: The Circle

Book author(s)/editor(s): Dave Eggers

Paperback price: $10

250 pages

Other formats available:

  • Audible audiobook: Yes
  • CD audiobook: Yes
  • Kindle: Yes

Used as common read elsewhere?

Yes (25+ colleges/universities); Guide available

Why do you think the LSSU Campus should read this book? How will it build community? start conversations? encourage social engagement? empower critical thinking?

Current theme. The uses vs. the abuses of technology for every aspect of life makes it a good read for almost any field, so it has a lot of cross-disciplinary appeal.

What kinds of campus programs do you imagine could be offered if this book was chosen as the LSSU Campus Read?

Debates, scholar lectures related to uses/abuses of access to digital information from the perspective of various disciplines, showing the film, activities presented through social media.


MATCHUP #2

Tomorrowland

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Book title: Tomorrowland: Our journey from science fiction to science fact

Book author(s)/editor(s): Steven Kotler

Paperback price: $13

304 pages

Other formats available:

  • Audible audiobook: Yes
  • CD audiobook: Yes
  • Kindle: Yes

Used as common read elsewhere?

Unknown

Why do you think the LSSU Campus should read this book? How will it build community? start conversations? encourage social engagement? empower critical thinking?

The topics of the book are  often topics of discussion in multiple fields of study and often spark an extensive conversation that involves societal and individual roles and responsibilities, ethics, and critical thinking. Topics include genetic manipulation for both disease control, life extension, and enhancement; dual use genetic manipulation for the purpose of bio-warfare and disease control; drug use for life extension, and other current tech issues.

What kinds of campus programs do you imagine could be offered if this book was chosen as the LSSU Campus Read?

I would expect numerous related presentations by both faculty and outside experts. The topics have the potential of foundational for the development of research projects for life sciences and discussions regarding protocol development for behavioral health and nursing students. The ethical discussions could lead to writing and communication projects in arts and letters

Anything else you would like to add to support choosing this book as the next LSSU Campus Read title?

It is a relatively quick read that holds ones attention.

VERSUS

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

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Book title: The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake

Book author(s)/editor(s): Steven Novella, et al.

Paperback price: $23 (used copies from $18)

512 pages

Other formats available:

  • Audible audiobook: Yes
  • CD audiobook: Yes
  • Kindle: Yes

Used as common read elsewhere?

Unknown

Why do you think the LSSU Campus should read this book? How will it build community? start conversations? encourage social engagement? empower critical thinking?

Current events, accusations of “fake news,” the polarization of ideas, the labeling and classification of people based upon those ideas, social constructs such as “tribalism,” increased reliance upon social media, and overall critical thinking are important considerations across disciplines.  Potential conversations will range from discussing the place of social media, to known problems in scientific research, and the ability to consider the opinion or position of others without demonizing. As the book lays out the “tools” of critical thinking, it will encourage conversations about most any topic that people could discuss, agree upon, or disagree upon.  The Skeptics’ Guide is literally about the ability to utilize critical thinking, first and foremost, when considering one’s own opinion while also learning the best evidenced based strategies for communicating points of view with others.

What kinds of campus programs do you imagine could be offered if this book was chosen as the LSSU Campus Read?

Campus programs could range from political, to scientific (anything from the recent problems of “‘p’ hacking” to bogus publications), to mathematical (interpretation of polls, evidence, and data), to computer science (algorithms that determine social media influence and how individuals are presented with information), to the arts (avenues of presentation including written fictional, social media videos, and dramatic presentations/comedy/movies), to history (how information is used and/or abused to present information and/or precedent), to sociology (tribalism, generational concerns, power constructs) and anything else that is touched upon by critical thinking (read: Everything).  The topic of critical thinking will allow for a broad range of faculty and staff interest and give ample opportunity for ongoing library presentations.

Anything else you would like to add to support choosing this book as the next LSSU Campus Read title?

This book is important.  It teaches critical thinking across disciplines, is cognizant of ones own bias, and teaches strategies that one can use to successfully improve critical thinking and recognize logical fallacies/cognitive distortions in one’s own thinking and those of others while also considering the most charitable interpretation of other’s ideas.  

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