All incoming freshmen are encouraged to read the following classic:

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

This book will be starting point for the Fall Course. You are welcome to acquire any edition of the book, which is available widely in several bookstores across the country. Used editions are absolutely welcome. 

We encourage you to read not just the book, but learn as much as you can about John Steinbeck, his sources of information, and his politics. We encourage you also to research the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and explore the similarities and differences between that period and today. 

A good place to start is the College Eight Core Course Wiki, and especially, the following links:

The Grapes of Wrath

The Great Depression

There is also a great deal of information on this subject in newspapers such as the New York Times, and the internet, more widely. Try and come to College Eight having learned something about the relevance of the Great Depression to contemporary America.

If you are looking for a fun thing to do before coming to college, try and make a trip with your family to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas.