Stanford University is one of the highest ranking universities in the United States, and in the world, and getting accepted in Stanford is very competetive. There has been a very interesting tradition in Stanford University starting from 2004. Each year a faculty member selects three books for incoming undergraduate students to read over the summer. This is known as Three Books program. This gets more interesting because then during the new students orientation, Stanford invites authors of these books for a panel round table discussion, and students can ask authors about their books. This is a beautiful tradition at Stanford that encourages students to read, think and talk about interesting subjects. Here are the books that have been suggested each year starting from 2004.
2022
Theme: Biodiversity
Moderated by: Elizabeth Hadly, faculty director of Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve
2021
Theme: Perspective, Empathy, and Hope
Moderated by: Shashank V. Joshi, professor of psychiatry, pediatrics and education at the School of Medicine
2020
Theme: Education and Character
2019
Theme: Cities
Moderated by: Sarah Billington, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
2018
Theme: Globality and Migration
Moderated by: José David Saldívar, Professor of Comparative Literature
2017
Theme: Sustainability and Equity
Moderated by: Noah Diffenbaugh, Professor of Earth System Science
2016
Theme: Crisis and Connection
Moderated by: Elizabeth Tallent, Professor of English
2015
Theme: Resilience
Moderated by: John Hennessy, President of Stanford University
2014
Theme: Science
Moderated by: Persis Drell, Dean of the School of Engineering and Professor of Physics
2013
Theme: Home
Moderated by: Nicholas Jenkins, Associate Professor of English
2012
Theme: What is Art?
Moderated by: Mark Applebaum, Associate Professor of Music
2011
Theme: Ethical Dilemmas in War and Peace
Moderated by: Scott Sagan, Professor of Political Science
2010
Theme: Social Inequities
Moderated by: Debra Satz, Professor of Philosophy
2009
Theme: Past & Present
Moderated by: Harry Elam, Professor of Drama & Michele Elam, Professor of English and Program in African and African American Studies
2008
Theme: Youth & Self-Identity
Moderated by: Andrea Lunsford, Professor of English
2007
Moderated by: Kenneth Fields, Professor of English
2006
Moderated by: Tobias Wolff, Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of English
2005
Moderated by: Hazel Markus, Davis-Brack Professor in the Behavioral Sciences
2004
Moderated by: Steven J. Zipperstein, Faculty Director of Undergraduate Advising
