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The Book of the Year program was introduced at The Chicago School in 2006 to facilitate campus-wide discussion on issues central to the school’s mission.

Tracy Kidder’s Mountain Beyond Mountains—The Chicago School’s Book of the Year 2007-08—and Anne Fadiman’s The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down—The Chicago School’s Book of the Year 2008-09—were read on the train and in class, discussed in PD groups and elevators; it inspired many of us to participate in initiatives that make a difference in the world.

Steve Lopez’s The Soloist—based on the true story of an L.A.Times columnist who becomes an advocate and friend to a mentally ill homeless man who was once a musical prodigy—is The Chicago School’s Book of the Year for 2009-2010.

It was selected by an expended committee—consisting of students, faculty, and staff from the Chicago and Southern California campuses—for its thematic congeniality with the school’s mission and its potential to engage community members in a conversation about mental illness and homelessness and to inspire efforts to serve the community. In addition, the book addresses the question of how one enters a culture on several levels: from immediate experiencing and researching to exploring, understanding, helping, educating, and appreciating. It was one of 24 books nominated this year.

In her review of the book, Nicole Flowers, one of the committee members and Southern California admission counselor, described some of the reasons for the choice:

“The story of Nathaniel Ayers’ homelessness takes place just outside the very doors of The Chicago School’s Los Angeles Campus,” she said. “It deals with homelessness and mental health and follows the model of service to community. Lopez’s writing is beautiful and accessible; he masterfully articulates how his own life changed by his friendship with Ayers.”

Katia Mitova, BOTY chair, invites The Chicago School’s faculty to think of possible ways of incorporating The Soloist in their course curricula, especially in the Professional Development and Diversity courses. The committee also hopes that a variety of extracurricular, community-integrating events will be initiated by academic programs and community groups at the school. All incoming students in Chicago and Southern California as well as our online students will receive a free copy of the Book of the Year as a welcome gift from The Chicago School.

The committee is looking for volunteers among students, faculty, and staff to join the 2009-10 Book of the Year Committee in its efforts to make The Soloist a source of inspiration for the pursuit of The Chicago School’s mission and learning goals: diversity, professional behavior, and professional practice.

The semifinalists for this year’s book included How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America (2008) by Moustafa Bayoumi, She’s Not There: A Life In Two Genders (2003) by Jennifer Finney Boylan, and Whatever it Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harem and America (2008) by Paul Tough.

Please write with questions and suggestions to the chair of the Book of the Year Committee, Katia Mitova at kmitova@thechicagoschool.edu.

2008-09 Book of the Year Committee