The Envelope, Please - by Mayor Bart Peterson

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The Envelope, Please
by Mayor Bart Peterson

This article is a monthly message from the Mayor to Indianapolis' Neighborhoods.

Is there a book that has moved you? Changed the way you look at the world? Left an indelible imprint on your life? Many of us are familiar with the joy of settling in with a good book; yet, in our harried lives where time is a precious commodity, reading takes a backseat to family time, work, and volunteer obligations. This month, I’d like to tell you about an innovative opportunity to both read and share one book with the entire city.

In October, the City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library announced “One Book, One City – Indy’s Choice,” a program designed to unite our community around reading and discussing one book. While other cities, like Chicago, have sponsored similar initiatives, we added a new twist in Indianapolis by inviting residents to recommend a book for the city to read.

Throughout October and early November, we heard from you. You cast your ballots across town in coffee shops, library branches, and bookstores. You visited http://onebook.imcpl.org and expressed how our city could both enjoy and learn from your “one book.” Nearly 25,000 people visited our website, posting more than 3,500 suggestions and reviews. All of your recommendations served as the basis for Indy’s 25, a list of 25 books from which the “One Book” has been selected.

At the press conference announcing “One Book, One City – Indy’s Choice,” I was asked about my favorite book. I mentioned The Power Broker, a 1,200-page biography and urban policy tome – probably not a book with broad appeal (it did not make the top 25!). But I did say that I hoped others would carefully evaluate their favorite book to determine if it fit the “One Book” criteria. We envisioned the “One Book” program would bring our city together and spark a spirited dialogue by exploring significant cultural, social and historical issues.

I’m pleased to tell you that the “One Book, One City – Indy’s Choice” selection does just that. The Friendly Persuasion, by Jessamyn West, is about an Indiana Quaker family facing the Civil War and the challenges war poses to their religious beliefs, family relationships and community. It offers us a vital link to our heritage and identity as Hoosiers. It is not only educational, but also spotlights the inevitable conflict that families and individuals face in times of crisis, particularly when that crisis threatens to dismantle the very freedoms on which this nation was founded. On top of all that, it’s an entertaining novel with plenty of humor.

I hope you take the opportunity to read The Friendly Persuasion, to mention it to your friends and neighbors, and to join our citywide book discussion group. Let’s settle in with the entire city and read one book together.