INFORMATION FOR

'Best of Enemies': 2007 First-Year Summer Reading

Incoming first-year Duke University students will read “The Best of Enemies,” the story of two Durham residents who worked together on desegregating the public school system in the early 1970s.

Students in the Class of 2011 will receive a copy of the book this summer and are expected to read the book before August orientation. At that time, they will participate in small-group discussions.

Ryan Lombardi, associate dean of students and chairman of the summer reading selection committee, said “The Best of Enemies,” written by Osha Gray Davidson, was a unanimous choice because of its historical account of Durham and the important issues it raises between the main characters.

“‘The Best of Enemies’ does a great job in exploring the history of the city of Durham,” Lombardi said. “It will be a great opportunity for our students to learn about their new community before they arrive in August.”

The story of the two characters is also very engaging, he said. “To have a local and very real demonstration of how two people of divergent beliefs and opinions can come together toward a common goal is a very powerful message.”

In the book, Ann Atwater, an African-American civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan, are asked to work together toward the desegregation of the Durham public school system. Bitter enemies initially, they became friends by learning about each other and by their individual desires to make Durham a better community for their families.

“To tell the story of the American civil rights struggle through the inspiring lives of the men and women of the Durham community will be to provide incoming first-years with a sense of the rich history of which they will become a part through their college experience here at Duke,” said Bronwyn Lewis, a Duke junior and member of the selection committee.

Now in its sixth year, Duke’s summer reading assignment provides a taste of the university’s intellectual climate and fosters a sense of community among incoming students. Last year, first-year students read “My Sister’s Keeper,” a fictional story of a teenager who was genetically engineered to be a bone marrow donor for her leukemia-stricken older sister.

A 14-member committee of faculty, students and staff began meeting in October and considered more than 70 nominations. The committee used results from an online survey to help make a decision, Lombardi said. Students, faculty and staff could give feedback online about the four finalists and indicate which one they’d like the committee to choose. Lombardi said 152 people completed the survey and provided comments for the committee to consider.

“We were really pleased with the engagement of the broader community in the process,” he said. “The comments that people wrote about the four finalists were helpful to the committee in considering multiple viewpoints.”

The other finalists were “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan; “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin; and “What is the What” by Dave Eggers.

A special Duke reprint of the book is being coordinated by UNC Press and will be ready in time for distribution to students. Lombardi said he expects the author to visit campus this fall to discuss the book.