The 2012 One Book – One Lincoln program was wrapped up February 24th, 2013, with the final special program, but information about Destiny of the Republic and One Book – One Lincoln – 2012 is still available on this archive page.
The eleventh annual One Book – One Lincoln community reading program began on September 10, 2012, with the announcement of Candice Millard’s vibrant historical text, Destiny of the Republic, as the selected title for 2012. The scheduled events of One Book — One Lincoln — 2012 will take place throughout September and October, and early November.
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard has been selected for the 2012 “One Book — One Lincoln” program.
About One Book – One Lincoln – 2012
One Book – One Lincoln is a community reading program sponsored by Lincoln City Libraries. The program encourages all adults in Lincoln and Lancaster County to read and discuss the same book at the same time. The goal of the program is to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community wide reading and discussion experience.
The idea of city-wide reading programs started in Seattle in 1998 with the program “If All Seattle Read the Same Book” initiated by the Washington Center for the Book, located at the Seattle Public Library. The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book reports that “One Book” programs are being introduced across the U.S.A. and around the world.
This is Lincoln’s 11th straight year of the program. Since 2002, the citizens of Lincoln and the surrounding communities have been encouraged to read the same book each fall, and participate in special programming and book discussions. Starting in 2010, the public has voted to determine the final selection each year. You can see an archive of the previous ten years’ worth of One Book – One Lincoln selections at our One Book main page.
Lincoln City Libraries Reference staff have compiled additional resources about Destiny of the Republic and Candice Millard.
How can I participate?
- Get the Book. Check out a copy of Destiny of the Republic at any of the Lincoln City Libraries or purchase your own copy at your local bookstore. The title is available at Lincoln City Libraries in hardback and paperback, Large Type, Downloadable E-book, Downloadable Audiobook, and Unabridged Book-on-CD formats. This title is also available as a Book Club in a Bag version, for book clubs wishing to check out multiple copies at once!
- Read! Join your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and fellow Lincolnites in reading the same book – together!
- Watch an informational program about this year’s One Book — One Lincoln which will air on CityTV (Channel 5 local cable) in September on both Channel 5 and the On Demand channels.
- Attend our related programs.
- Look at our main Resource Page about Destiny of the Republic, and watch for the official schedule of events, in September!
- Visit our One Book — One Lincoln Facebook page (see the Fan box below!). Look for more online opportunities.
- Sign up to receive e-mail updates about One Book-related programs and events on our 2012 Finalists page.
- Discuss the Book in Person or Online! Attend a Community Discussion at your local library or bookstore. A complete list of Community Discussion groups is available here. Print off the official Discussion Questions (posted soon!) for your own book group, or contact the library to have a trained facilitator come and lead your own discussion group. Or visit our One Book One Lincoln Blog to reply to discussion topics posted in a discussion forum.
- Listen to Podcast recordings about Destiny of the Republic on our Podcasts page, or check out our Podcasts Index page, which has a complete list of all current and past One Book-related podcasts!
We can provide a discussion leader for your group
So you want to have a One Book – One Lincoln discussion group, but you don’t have a discussion leader? During September, October and November and beyond, Lincoln City Libraries staff will be available to organizations, businesses and clubs interested in hosting a discussion group. Visit our Finalists page, to request a book discussion leader via our online form, or for further information, call Lincoln City Libraries at 441-8592 (Layne Pierce) or 441-8575 (Carol Swanson). Leave a message by voice mail if necessary with your contact information. Please let us know if we can list your upcoming discussion group on our page promotion discussion opportunities!
What programs will there be?
Several special programs are being scheduled at various locations during October, November and December, with ties to the themes and events of Destiny of the Republic. You can see descriptions at our Programs and Events page.
How was Destiny of the Republic chosen?
A call for nominations from the community in January and February resulted in 255 nominations for 194 different titles being received. The general criteria for the title included:
- Fiction or Non-Fiction
- Of general interest to adults and young adults
- Sparks thoughtful discussion
- Easily available in paperback
- Address universal themes of life
- Readable
A selection committee with community-wide representation was formed to narrow the list down to nine titles and ultimately the Three Finalists, which were announced to the public in May. Members of the selection committee included:
- David Smith, Chair
- Janet Anderbery
- Patty Beutler
- Yvonne Davenport
- Kaitlyn Hansen
- Kate Janulewicz
- Cyndy Maddux
- Emily Nimsakont
- Tom Pappas
- Mary Pietz
- Gloria Strope
- Carol Swanson
- Ann Thompson
- Tami Works
Starting in 2010, the public has been invited to vote on which of the top Finalists you would like to see as the ultimate selection for each year. The title you, the citizens of LIncoln, have selected for 2012 — with an overwhelming percentage of the votes cast — is Destiny of the Republic by Millard.
“The extraordinary New York Times-bestselling account of James Garfield’s rise from poverty to the American presidency, and the dramatic history of his assassination and legacy, from bestselling author of The River of Doubt, Candice Millard.
For a man forced into the presidency, the legacy of James Garfield extended far beyond his lifetime, and Destiny of the Republic revisits his meteoric rise within the military and government with meticulous research and intimate focus. Garfield was a passionate advocate of freed slaves, a reformer at odds with Republican power brokers and machine politics, a devoted father, and a spellbinding speech-giver. Four months after taking office he was shot twice by an unhinged office-seeker, Charles Guiteau, and a nation already recently fractured by war shattered, leaving the wounded president at the center of a bitter, behind-the-scenes struggle for power. Examining the medical reform spurred by Garfield’s unsanitary medical treatment, and reflecting on the surprising political reform brought on by his former political enemy Senator Roscoe Conkling, Destiny of the Republic passionately brings President Garfield’s unknown-but-widely-felt legacy into focus.”
What other books were considered for 2012?
The other finalists in the top three for One Book – One Lincoln – 2012 were:
You can also Click Here for more detailed information about these books, and for a list of the other books in the Top Nine for 2012.
