About One Book, Everybody Reads

"One Book, Everybody Reads" is the Library's annual community-wide reading and book discussion program. The Library selects one book and encourages the community to read the selection and participate in a series of related events and book discussion. The culmination of the program takes place when the author visits Wilmette to talk about his/her book. In order to facilitate the experience, the Library offers numerous copies of the book in various formats for patron use. 

 With its annual One Book, Everybody Reads series, the Wilmette Public Library hopes to deepen an appreciation of reading, promote the sharing of ideas and different viewpoints, and build community and tolerance.

Previous selected titles:

2019: The Lake on Fire by Rosellen Brown

2018: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

2017: Mischling by Affinity Konar

2016: Nobody's Fool and Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo

2015: Some Luck by Jane Smiley

2014: Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat

2013: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

2012: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

2011: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

2010: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

2009: The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester

2008: Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

2007: A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind

2006: Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian

The concept of a "One Book" program was launched in 1998 when Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book in the Seattle Public Library, initiated "If All Seattle Read the Same Book." The Library of Congress offers lists of One Book Projects in the United States as well as information about the history of community reads programs on its website.

Funding for One Book, Everybody Reads is made possible by Friends of the Wilmette Public Library.