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Common Read 2021 - What the Eyes Don't See: Home

The Book

Cover of "What the Eyes Don't See"

"By the crusading pediatrician who brought the fight for justice in Flint to the national spotlight, WHAT THE EYES DON’T SEE is a powerful first-hand account of the Flint water crisis, the signature environmental disaster of our time, and a riveting narrative of personal advocacy. Here is the dramatic story of how Dr. Mona used science to prove Flint kids were exposed to lead, and how she courageously went public with her research and faced a brutal backlash. With persistence and single-minded sense of mission, she spoke truth to power. The book explores the horrific reality of how misguided austerity policies and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. A medical and scientific thriller, the book grapples with our country’s history of environmental injustice while telling the inspiring personal story of Dr. Mona—an immigrant, a doctor, and a scientist—whose family roots in social justice activism helped her turn the Flint crisis around." 

From monahannaattisha.com 

Common Read Program

Each year, Honors champions a campus and community Common Read experience. This initiative is designed to bring together people from all areas of campus and the Brookings community to learn, discuss and engage a singular, impactful book and associated themes.

The Common Read started in 2009. It was originally designed to raise the level of academic challenge at SDSU, enhance our awareness of diverse perspectives, increase faculty and student interaction, encourage serve and promote enriching, engaging educational experiences both in and outside class.

The Common Read Committee is a group of students, faculty, staff and community members who plan and implement the Common Read experience each year. The group selects the book, provides training for faculty and staff who will be teaching the book and plans numerous events designed to encourage participation and employ critical thinking around the text. 

Throughout the fall semester, the Common Read Committee partners with the Brookings Human Rights Commission and other campus and community groups to sponsor and support Common Read events on campus and within the Brookings community. These strong partnerships garner a large amount of  campus and community support and involvement with the Common Read. - Honors College Common Read Webpage

Nominations are open for 2022's book selection. Got a book you think the whole campus should read? Tell us about it here: https://www.sdstate.edu/van-d-barbara-b-fishback-honors/common-read-book-nomination 

About the Author

headshot of Dr. Mona Hannah Attisha

"Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP, is founder and director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, an innovative and model public health program in Flint, Michigan.

With concentrations in environmental health and health policy, Dr. Hanna-Attisha received her bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan. She completed her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and her residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, where she was chief resident. She is currently a Charles Stewart Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health and an associate professor of pediatrics and human development at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine" 

From monahannaatisha.com/about 

Find it at Briggs

Briggs Library has several copies of "What the Eyes Don't See" available for check-out. 2 copies are on reserve and can be borrowed for 1 week at a time. Ask for one at the main desk. The ebook and audiobook versions can be accessed from anywhere; simply click the links. 

2021 Common Read Events

Campus & Community Kick-Off

9/7 | 7:00 PM | Volstorff Ballroom & Zoom

An examination of the book What the Eyes Don't See and selected themes: Health, Education, Advocacy, Responsibility, and Health

Let's Talk! Healthcare Access with Aaron Hunt/Coordinator-MPH Program

9/13 | 7:00 PM | Volstorff Ballroom

Learn about and discuss how demographics affect access to healthcare

Water Challenge

9/20 - 9/24 | Social Media

Learn more about water conservation through @sdsucommonread on Instagram and Facebook

Let's Talk! Environmental Decisions with Dr. Candace May

10/12 | 7:00 PM | Volstorff Ballroom

Join Dr. Candice May in a conversation about how organizations make environmental decisions and how the public can be involved in decision-making

Everything Including the Kitchen Sink: The Science and Politics of Your Drinking Water

10/13 | 6:30 PM | City Council Chambers & Zoom

Learn more about the management and distribution of safe drinking water

Let's Journal HEART

10/20 | 7:00 PM | Rotunda D

Write and grow through guided journaling. 

Griffith Lecture

11/3 | 7:00 PM | Cancelled

Join the author of What the Eyes Don't See, Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP who is a physician, scientist, and activist who has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World

Public Health Forum

11/4 | 7:00 PM | Volstorff Ballroom

Poverty Simulation

11/5 | 2:00 PM | Volstorff Ballroom

Join Dr. Kristine Ramsay Seaner from the School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development by taking part in a poverty simulation

 

 

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