Books Blog : nonfiction, events

One Book One Community "This I Believe" essays: DEADLINE Sunday!

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Reading, Writing, and Growing Together in Southwestern Indiana

This year's One Book One Community title is This I Believe: the Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women. This collection of essays from the 1950s and today is based on the National Public Radio series of the same name. In addition to holding book discussions, the EVPL will host co-editor and radio series producer Dan Gediman on Monday, November 24, 7:30pm at UE's Shanklin Theatre.

What do you believe in? We asked this back in June, when we started accepting essays of personal convictions. Since then, we've received over 80 essays from patrons & staff members! All of these essays can be viewed online.

We want to hear from you! If you'd like to submit an essay and haven't yet done so, Sunday, November 2 is the last day to do so! Visit the Contribute an Essay page ASAP to submit yours. Selected essays submitted to the EVPL may be posted on our website, read on WNIN Radio, published in the Evansville Courier & Press, or read at the concluding event on Monday, November 24. We've partnered with ThisIBelieve.org, so when submitting your essay you may also choose to send it to them; they may post the essay on their website and possibly broadcast it on NPR (including a $200 prize for your contribution)!

Read the essays others have submitted. Submit your own. Participate in a book discussion. Then join us Monday, November 24 at 7:30pm as we welcome Dan Gediman!

More Information

Contribute an Essay: Submit your own essay online no later than Sunday, November 2.
Browse Essays: View essays others have already submitted.
This I Believe Book Discussions: Attend a book discussion at EVPL libraries.
About One Book One Community: Discover what the One Book project is all about, including its history in Evansville.
ThisIBelieve.org: The official website of This I Believe.

The Food We Eat: New Ways of Thinking About Food

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:01:00 GMT

Red Bank Branch has two upcoming events concerning our food and where it comes from.

On Wednesday September 24 at 6:30pm Marvin Kemper and Joe Schalansky of Seton Harvest will be speaking. Seton Harvest is a CSA, or community supported agriculture project.

Next, on Wednesday October 15 at 6:30pm Suzan Ozel of the River City Food Co-op will be speaking. The River City Food Co-op is a local source for whole foods, organic foods and local produce.

If you're interested in learning more about the food we eat, try these titles:

The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America's Underground Food Movements by Sandor Ellix Katz
Simply in Season: A World Community Cookbook by Mary Beth Lind and Cathleen Hockman-Wert
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Food by Gary Paul Nabhan
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver
Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty by Mark Winne
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser
Feeding People is Easy by Colin Tudge
Everything I Want To Do is Illegal by Joel Salatin

"This I Believe" edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman

GoldensRule@evpl — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:38:00 GMT

This I Believe is this years One Book One Community pick for Southwestern Indiana. Originally started in the 1950's by Edward R. Murrow, it was reinvented in 2005 by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. A collection of thought-provoking essays from the famous and not-so-famous, the essays have aired on public radio. Some of the essays will resonate with you, some will make you scratch your head, while many will move you to tears.

All of the EVPL locations will be hosting book discussion groups. In addition, the public has been invited to submit their own essays. Again check out the web where over 30 local essays have been posted. Locally submitted essays may be selected to air on 88.3, to run in the Courier, or to be read aloud on Monday, November 24 at UE Shanklin Theater.

You can borrow a copy of the book at any EVPL location, and write your own 500 or less word essay on This I Believe.