Late-breaking Opportunities for Books on Break!
Jeral Poskey
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Facing a massive crush of demand, Books on Break is likely to extend its offerings in coming weeks. Last week, all six books initially offered were full within four hours of the opening last week. In coming days, the administration is expected to announce new books, and possibly additional sessions for the existing books. Books on Break gives students the chance to read an interesting book and then discuss it after the holidays in a small group led by a faculty member. Books range from serious business topics to lighter topics more appropriate for the beach. In only its second year of existence, this program has proven an extremely popular way to get to know faculty, classmates and students outside of one's class year.
The six sessions initially offered were: Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond to be hosted by Even Porteus; Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata to be hosted by Jim March; Jack: Straight From the Gut by Jack Welch and John Byrne to be hosted by Paul Oyer & Brian Viard; The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen to be hosted by Sefanos Zenios; The Essays of Warren Buffet, Lessons for Corporate America to be hosted by Leslie Hodder; and Churchill: a Biography by Ron Jenkins to be hosted by David Kreps.
Students were widely impressed with last year's sessions. Some were offered in the professors' homes. At others, the book's author made a surprise appearance. Even without such enticements, sessions were well attended, and, as one student commented, were "thankfully, not like a lecture at all."
Students are encouraged to add themselves to the wait lists for existing books. If new sessions are offered, or if fellow students don't read their books or develop conflicts with the scheduled times, the wait list will be used for priority placement.
In addition, students can host their own book discussion. Simply contact Courtney Payne for more information. And while you are gone, don't forget to check http://gobi.stanford.edu/booksonbreak for late-breaking opportunities.