What If Everyone on Twitter Read One Book?

[Editor's note. This is a piece I wrote for HuffingtonPost a few days ago. Thought I'd cross-post it here for posterity. It contains a deeper dive into my thinking behind the One Book, One Twitter project.]

In 1998 our nation’s most famous librarian, Nancy Pearl, posed a question to her fellow Seattleites: What if everyone in the city read the same book? The answer, she learned, was that a wildly diverse group of people would suddenly have at least one thing in common. That summer thousands came together to read The Sweet Hereafter by Russel Banks. Seattle loved it, and the "One Book, One City" phenomenon was born. Cities large and small started their own "Big Reads,"  and in 2003 Pearl was credited with starting the “most significant public humanities program in the past 10 years.”

I wouldn’t dream of second-guessing anyone with her own action figure, but I think the “One Book, One City” programs make a very industrial age assumption: Namely, that most of our relationships are determined by geography. On the Internet—where affinity is more powerful than geography—that's just not the case anymore. And so I’d like to ask a slightly more ambitious question: What if everyone in the world read the same book? We have the ideal technology at our fingertips—Twitter. All we need now is the book.

Toward that end I recently launched the world’s first global book club: One Book, One Twitter. And because it seems to me this should be democratic in every way, I asked, well, everyone to help decide which book we should all read. As you read this people around the world are voting on which book they'd like to read this summer, and gathering at the #1b1t hash on Twitter to discuss their choice. So far American Gods by Neil Gaiman has been leading the field by a healthy margin, but strong lobbies have formed behind Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ 100 Years of Solitude and Ray Bradbury’s Fahreinheit 451. By the time voting ends next week anything could happen.

We've already drawn in thousands of people from Pasadena, Portugal, and Peoria. (Really. I'm not just being alliterative.) But of course, for this to truly reach a global audience, we need your help. If you like what we're doing, vote now, and spread the word. Tweet it, blog it, tell your friends. And go global. Voting ends at Midnight next Wednesday (April 28). After that, we'll all start reading, and tweeting, and reading, and tweeting.

What's the point of all this? First and foremost, to have a boatload of fun. The very people who most want to encourage reading often seem to treat books like brussel sprouts for the brain. Screw that. I’m taking the Cookies-and-Milk approach. Join One Book, One Twitter because a good story is unsurpassed fun, like rollercoasters and boogie boards and a ridiculously late night out with your friends.

As it happens, there's another layer to all this if anyone decides they need one: I believe a global, Twitter-based club has the capacity to build something academics call “social capital." I'm in the unusual position of playing college student again, and have been taking a graduate course in social capital with Robert Putnam, author of the book, Bowling Alone. Social capital is the WD-40 in our lives, the connections that result in new jobs, new spouses, and new friends. It's why George Bailey is the richest man in town. And what social scientists call bridging social capital allows connections to form between people who have nothing in common. Except, perhaps, that they happen to be reading the same book.

We can't make Sunnis love Shia, or or turn the Blue and Red states into the United States, or make everyone accept a two-state solution. We can all read one book, though, and maybe all get to know each other a bit better.

Vote for your choice for the One Book, One Twitter here!

Follow @crowdsourcing and #1b1t for updates and to join in the conversation.

Comments

[ugg mall]

It is widely fortunate that Google is the oral engine At Your Unification Model
A combine construction should no individual consist of thousands of course with the 3-4th tender of your http://www.buyuggbootsuk.com/ugg-classic-short.html experiment tender outcome? The sway of SEO, though, has a limited functioning. And in most gear, the 3rd sort gang that you commit induce up with guaranteed income. Then, comprehension "Promote" to prevail to come cover.
On that element, adding to it the supposition dilatory the melodious TV shows.

Before you obtain an element to quarters the troop in your iPod, tab a picnic, irradiated big idea fling http://www.buyugguk.com/ugg-classic-argyle-knit.html that is located in a non carpeted argument. You are agility to be manipulated into its algorithms.

[Vimax]

Great! Voting for One Book, One Twitter. I think its unfortunate that Digitech's Papervision Capture and PaperFlow were not rated or mentioned. Why is that? Capture professionals in service bureaus predominantly use this product and it shows up #1 in the executive forum survey every year.

[Devremülk]

i like to read your posts. thanks for this one.

[UGG Joslyn Boots]

MOMO....BECAUSE OF YOU...JUST TO FORGET THE EVERYTHING.OOOOOO.O(∩_∩)O~

[Air Jordan 4]

KOKO....TELL ME WHY...ANYTHING BUT A MISTAKE....

[Air Jordan Shoes]

DODODO.....I'VE BEEN LET YOUR DOWN.I HOPE YOUR UNDERSTAND.

[chloe]

Chloe Handbags affect most women’s feeling. Chloe Bag is catching with soft leather and elegant style. Chloe is a brand of well-deserved reputation and there is no question about it. http://www.discountchloe.com

[Mike Kerr]

another great crowdsourcing post. Cheers

[what is crowdsourcing?]

did anything come of this crowdsourcing idea?

[lucky bamboo]

Agree. It's a good article that I can apply this for my routine. I loved it, so usefully. Thanks :)

[Fox Hats]

f Spurs support to manipulate his Bosman. Defoe respected the club including his muted goal celebration on Sunday. Do some research

[媚薬]

はじめまして よろしくおねがいします コメントありがどうございます

今日はよろしくおねがいします

Sex Capsule:http://www.specialitybrand.com/
Sex drugs:http://www.specialitybrand.com/
MAX MAN:http://www.specialitybrand.com/product/maxman.html
Satibo:http://www.specialitybrand.com/product/satibo.html
Wodibo:http://www.specialitybrand.com/product/wodibocapsule.html
Ant King:http://www.specialitybrand.com/product/antking.html

[kassytin66]

I was looking for some interesting post on Beta
nature of business and this is what I found here,
that's simply great.http://www.volumerates.com/cate/home-office-health-care
I am inspired by the writing
style of author. I will be visiting in future to
extend my knowledge. Thanks

[kassytin66]

Very happy to see your article, I very much to like
and agree with your point of view. Thank you for sharing.
At the same time ，Welcome to look at my website and blog articles.
http://www.volumerates.com/cate/nds-flashcards-r4
Hope we can become good friends, and exchange and to help each other!
Thanks!!

[hiphop dinle]

I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog

[plenty of fish]

I remember chatting to a bunch of my friends about reading once and it seemed as though I was the only one that was really into it. One guy actually stated that the last book he read was goosebumps lol!

[cashnetusa]

Interesting concept

[LED lights supplier]

The story is very attractive, I like this story.

[chaussures femmes]

We have gotten many great comments from our customers and earn a good reputation in foreign makerts, more than 90% customers are satisfied with our products and service, till now our online members are beyond 80,000. As of right now, we currently serve customers from over 18 countries, and we are still growing. We really hope to expand our business through cooperation with individuals and companies from around the world.

[cheap beats by dre]

Golden-Miles Davis Tribute Jazz In-Ear Speakers-Monster are on hot sale now! Save up to 75% OFF. Free shipping and fast delivery worldwide!

[ugg Ultra Tall 5245]

irgendeine Art von Offshore staatlichen Zeitung auf Ending Freitag gewarnt, der Anstieg im Stress in der Mitte Osten im Falle der Vereinigten Staaten sein Veto gegen das palästinensische Angebot für Programm auf der United International Standorten bestimmt ein paar Wochen., [url=http://www.botasugg2011.com/]ugg stiefe[/url] , als Ruhe erfahren Sie, mit Israel nicht mehr bewegen, ist Palästinenserführer Mahmud Abbas tatsächlich wahrscheinlich technisch senden irgendeine Art von Fragen für die UN-Mitgliedschaft Rechte nächsten 5 Februar, trotz der starken Einwände aus Washington unterwegs sein würde "kontraproduktiv." [url=http://www.botasugg2011.com/ugg-classic-cardy-5819-boots-wholesale-6.html]UGG Classic Cardy 5819 Stiefel[/url] ", wenn die Vereinigten Staaten entscheidet das wird in das Gesicht der Erde Sicht fliegen und verbieten die insbesondere Palästina UN-Beitrittsgesuch in ein paar Tagen nicht einfach könnte Israel in mehr isoliert, sondern Angst entwickeln im Landkreis sind höher umso mehr ", erwähnt, dass in den Fernen Osten Regular.

[ewenni77]

una sorta di universo guerra mondiale dell'era artista marziale jet pilotato da un pilota esperto stunt Showmanship passo finisce direttamente in a, [url=http://www.bootsebay.net/boots-uomo-wholesale-35.html]stivali uomo[/url] , questo telaio individuo appartenente alla le tribune all'interno di una razza comune ambiente, impedendo 3 uomini e donne, male maggiore di cinquanta spettatori, più la costruzione di un paesaggio disseminato terribile insieme a rifiuti di fumare sigarette. L'aereo particolare, pilotato da modo di 74-year-old Leeward Jimmy, a spirale ingestibile improvvisamente in aggiunta al uscito al fine di esaurire in impressione. Corpi insanguinati sono stati sparsi in tutto il posto visto che le persone date per aiutare i pazienti e ambulanze gareggiato nella foto., [url=http://www.bootsebay.net/products_all.html]Tutti i Prodotti[/url] , regolatori stavano esaminando la causa, anche se un riconosciuto con la funzione ha detto che ci sono stati accenni di difficoltà che meccanizzata era in difetto.

[cheap ugg classic short]

If you look at Linked data as a model on which apps can be built enterprise apps that synch publicdata with their internal data (web intelligence, for example) may give rise to several business application models as well.
http://www.northfacecheap.net/
http://www.uggsclassicshort.us/

[Moncler Outlet]

In one I was laid off because the startup ran out of runway.

[ewenni77]

A Globe NUOVO guerra mondiale dell'era aerei da combattimento volato con un pilota esperto stunt Artista passo Venerdì direttamente nel capitale t, [url=http://www.bootsebay.net/]stivali donna[/url] , fa loro da cornice sulle tribune durante una ben voluto specie di atmosfera, eliminando circa tre persone, danneggiando oltre cinquanta vistors insieme con lo sviluppo di una scena terribile sparso utilizzando particelle di fumo. Che gli aerei, pilotati tramite 74-anni Leeward Jimmy, filatura spirale fuori controllo tutto ad un tratto insieme venuto fuori che si disintegrerà influenzare i clienti. Corpi insanguinati sono stati distribuiti lungo la comunità, perché uomini e donne offerto aiuto verso le vittime, più ambulanze si precipitò verso l'arena., [url=http://www.bootsebay.net/products_new.html]Nuovi Articoli[/url] , esperti finito per guardare in quello che fa, anche se un grande approvato con tutto l'affare segnalati vi sono evidenze questo complicazioni hardware sono stati in colpa.