We are looking forward to having you take part of the great conversations that are the hallmark of the LSA Honors Program! So, we want to give you something interesting to discuss right away. The First-year Book became an annual tradition for us in Summer 2000. Its intent is to give the incoming class something new to talk about, right from the beginning of your academic career at Michigan. A copy of the First-year Book will be our "welcome" gift to you at orientation. But please: don't treat the book like just another English assignment. This is not an assignment.  It has nothing to do with your classes.  There will not be a test on it. This is a book to read for fun. Enjoy it!  Fall in love with it!  Hate it!  And then come and talk about it with your classmates.

When you join us for Honors Kickoff the Friday before Fall Term begins, you'll have an opportunity to discuss the book with a group of your fellow Honors students and UM faculty.  

So, we hope you look forward to your book. Consider it our way of saying, "Welcome! We're so glad you've joined us!"

The 2011 Honors First-year Book: Cunning

2010: Grand River and Joy by Susan Messer

2009:  Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder by Lawrence Weschler

2008: Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle

2007: China Shakes The World by James Kynge

2006: Baghdad Bulletin by David Enders, UM Class of 2003.

2005: When Germs Travel by Howard Markel, George Wantz Professor of History of Medicine and Director, Center for the History of Medicine, UM Medical School and School of Public Health

2004:  Faster by James Gleick

2003:  Ernie Pyle's War by James Tobin, UM Alum

2002:  What Remains by Nicholas Delbanco, Robert Frost Professor of English at UM

2001: The Huron River: Voices from the Watershed, edited by Professor John Knott and Keith Taylor of the UM English department

2000: Through the Safety Net by Charles Baxter, UM Professor of English