USU's 2007 Literature Experience Book Selected

Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht was visited by a delegation of students, staff and community members and was presented the book selected for USU’s 2007 Literature Experience.

Noelle Call, director of USU’s retention and first year experience program, introduced the book, Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande, and presented a copy to President Albrecht. The work is a compilation of essays about a surgeon’s experiences learning and practicing medicine and the high-stake decisions doctors and patients are forced to make.

 

Meeting with Albrecht March 6 were Call, Wendy Beck, a member of the literature selection committee, John Engler, a lecturer in the USU English department, Karen Clark, City of Logan librarian, Jeremy Baker, a USU student majoring in computer engineering who has read the book and Jake Bingham, a student majoring in interdisciplinary studies who has also read the book.

 

“It’s is a very good choice,” said Albrecht. “I look forward to reading the book.”

 

The committee felt the book was a strong choice because of its wide appeal to readers and its potential for being integrated into the academic curriculum in a number of ways, including as an example of good writing in the essay style.

 

The book is a compilation of 14 essays written for the New Yorker magazine, where Gawande is a staff writer on medicine and science.

 

“The book will encourage discussion of how we learn, how we know what we know and don’t know and what we expect from science in our world today, and our role in the medical world,” said Call.

 

Gwande is scheduled to speak at Utah State’s Kent Concert Hall Saturday, Aug 25, at 9:30a.m. and tell his story in person. All are invited.

 

“We encourage individuals and book clubs in the community to read this book along with us,” said Call. “This is a book that is very engaging and something everyone can relate to and learn from.”

 

Contact: Noelle Call [noelle.call@usu.edu] (435) 797-1194