<p>So, my friends going to Tulane in my class randomly tell me they got a book in the mail that they (along with everyone else in our class) have to read ... for the fall semester. what is this about?! Why do we have to read it lol, and what is it?</p>
<p>no idea man, look it up or something...you were too vague with your description</p>
<p>vague? that's all i nkow haha...like people had it last year, something 2do w/global warming? not sure</p>
<p>Tulane, like many other colleges, assigns a book for their incoming freshman class to read over the summer. During orientation there should be discussion groups about the book. I'm sorry I sound vague, but I know they did it last year. I don't think it was a big deal. I think there were maybe two events held to discuss the book or attend a lecture about it? I know that one was not mandatory. Sorry, that's the best of my recollection.</p>
<p>So...it really doesn't make a difference whether or not we read the book then if it's not really for a class? I think it's kinda dumb partly b/c i'm going away on a vacation so i won't have time to read lol.</p>
<p>I will check and let you know.</p>
<p>We also had a book assigned. I might still have it, I might not. I think it was "Mountains over Mountains." What I read on the plane (along with the other dozen or so Tulane students on it) was about some doctor that went to poor places to treat people for basically free.</p>
<p>As you can see, there is not a whole lot of emphasis put on the reading assignment.</p>
<p>S also read Mountains over Mountains, written by Harvard educated Dr. Paul Farmer. He's an amazing guy....it's about how he dedicates his life to TB patients in Haiti, if I remember right.</p>
<p>Even though it was S's book, I borrowed it from him and read because I wanted to. It was a good read and very inspiring. Shows you how only 1 person CAN make a difference, a big difference at that.</p>
<p>I guess you could say it's dumb--the same way all education for the sake of learning itself is dumb. (Sorry, but why was it that you were going to college?) The Farmer book [I believe it was Mountains Beyond Mountains] was fantastic--one of the best things I'd read in years. My son asked me to read it when he was done with it, and I'm so glad he did. In fact, our family acquired a new speech mannerism from it--the use of the word "COMMA" as a form of address. If you read it, you'll find out why that's funny.</p>
<p>You don't have to read the book. There's no test. You don't get graded on it. It has no effect on your GPA. I believe theres an optional discussion session you can go to during orientation. If thats your thing, read the book and go for it. If not, go out and have fun instead.</p>
<p>lol alrighty. i still haven't gotten it so i'm actually starting to think it was all rumors (maybe only for this year at least b/c i know previous classes had it.)</p>
<p>You'll get the book sent in the mail and you'll do a discussion on it during orientation. Just read it so you'll have something to say</p>
<p>This was in the email by D received about the book assignment...."First up, the Tulane Reading Project. Every year, all new students participate in the Reading Project. The goal of the Reading Project is to provide you guys with a shared experience through the reading and discussion of a common book. Campus wide discussions begin during Orientation and will continue through the fall semester. The book that was selected for this year is Elizabeth Kolbert's Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change. The website for more information about the Reading Project is <a href="http://reading.tulane.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://reading.tulane.edu/</a>. You ought to be receiving your copy of the book in the mail by the end of this week or early next week. Now I know that it sounds like a homework assignment before you even get to school, but it's a lot more fun that you may think. Not only is it an interesting book, but it will give you something in common with everyone else right off the bat. I hope you guys finish the book before Orientation. If nothing else, it will give you something to do on the flight/drive down to NOLA".</p>
<p>tulane is awesome!!!!</p>