One Book One Northwestern

One Book One Northwestern is a community‐wide reading program hosted by the Office of the President. It aims to engage the campus in a common conversation centered on a carefully chosen, thought-provoking book

The Block Museum is proud to partner annually with the One Book program for  programming and art that explores the themes of this shared text.

These resource packages are offered as PDF downloads. Schedule a class visit to discuss any of these works in person in our study center by contacting essi.ronkko@northwestern.edu

2024–25: Teaching "The Night Watchman" through The Block's Collection

In The Night Watchman, the 2024‒25 One Book One Northwestern selection, author Louise Erdrich explores themes of identity, family, and tradition as well as poverty, oppression, and exploitation. Erdrich’s novel takes us back to the early 1950s through the lives of several characters, weaving a complex and interconnected network of events and actions. Erdrich provokes reflection about readers’ own personal and family histories, our ties to place and to each other, and our responsibility to learn from and understand our collective histories. Inspired by the book, this selection of artworks from The Block’s collection highlights experiences of kinship, rural and urban life, community action, and standing up for one’s rights.

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2023–24: Teaching "Crying in H Mart" through The Block's Collection

In Crying in H Mart, the 2023–24 One Book One Northwestern selection, author Michelle Zauner explores themes related to family, grief, and identity. Zauner revisits the devastating loss of her mother, recounting the complex mother-daughter relationship they had and the intense emotions of caring for a parent who is ill. This selection of prints and photographs from The Block’s collection is inspired by the book, highlighting common experiences of growing up, intergenerational family relationships, processes of mourning and remembering, and moving between cultures.

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2022-2023: Teaching “How the Word is Passed” Through the Block’s Collection

Throughout 2022-23 the One Book One Northwestern shared text is "How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with The History of Slavery Across America" by Clint Smith. This selection of artworks from The Block’s collection—including photographs, prints, sculpture, and an installation—adds to the conversation by highlighting artists who use different strategies to reckon with the history of slavery, white supremacy, symbols of nationhood, and social inequity.

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2021-2022: Teaching “The Story of More” Through the Block’s Collection

In The Story of More, the 2021–22 One Book One Northwestern selection, author Hope Jahren implores us to join the fight against climate change and illuminates some of the factors that led us to a crisis point. Inspired byThe Story of More, we selected artworks in the collection that provide historical insights into our ever-evolving relationship to the environment. We also highlighted artists who encourage us to reflect both on the ethical implications of our environmental policies and on the effects of our individual actions.

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2020-2021: Teaching “Just Mercy” Through the Block’s Collection

Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption is the One Book One Northwestern reading selection for the 2020-2021 school year. Just Mercy follows Stevenson through the beginning of his career as a lawyer devoted to seeking justice for those who have already been treated unfairly by the judicial system. We selected a range of artworks from The Block’s collection that reflect and expand upon Just Mercy’s themes, including the humanity and dignity of incarcerated people, the historical precedents for unfair sentencing practices, and the sheer exhaustion of pushing against an unjust system

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