One Book One Northwestern chooses Thomas Friedman’s “Hot, Flat, and Crowded.”

Each year Northwestern hosts a campus-wide reading program called One Book One Northwestern (OBON). The purpose of the program is to promote a common discussion across the Northwestern community regarding the topics addressed within the chosen book. Each incoming freshman is provided with a complimentary copy of the book. This year, the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN) was chosen to select the book and host the event. The book for this year is Thomas Friedman’s “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America.”

The book does an excellent job of mapping out the reasons why energy technology, especially within the United States, is of the utmost importance. I highly suggest you read it and get involved in the discussion, whether you agree with his assessments and solutions or not. As part of OBON, a number of people including myself are facilitating the discussion through a blog on their website that was launched last week. So if you have the time and resources, pick up the book at your local book store and join the comments on the blog. I can’t think of a timelier and more important book in an age where there is so much opportunity for the US to lead the ever more necessary green revolution.