UCSB Reads 2027 logoThe UCSB Reads 2027 book selection will be announced in the fall. The program will kick off in early 2027 with a free book giveaway for UCSB students. Throughout the winter and spring quarters, the Library will sponsor a variety of free learning, experiential, and social events to explore the book’s themes. UCSB Reads 2027 will culminate with a public lecture by the author of the selected book in the spring.

Shortlist

The shortlist of titles under consideration for UCSB Reads 2027 consists of five nonfiction titles and one fiction title. The titles explore diverse cultural, social, and scientific subjects that can ignite discourse and thoughtful discussion inside and outside of the classroom. The shortlist selections are (in alphabetical order): 

Share Your Voice

The UCSB Reads 2027 Advisory Committee invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to vote for their top UCSB Reads 2027 pick by August 26, 2026. One survey participant will be randomly selected to receive a free copy of the chosen book.

Vote Now

Longlist

  • ​40 Maps That Will Change How You See the World by Alastair Bonnett
  • A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness by Michael Pollan
  • Acquired.fm podcast
  • Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II by Elyse Graham
  • Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow
  • Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka
  • How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
  • I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
  • Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
  • Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
  • Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
  • Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman
  • One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
  • Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America by Beth Macy
  • Poppy State: A Labyrinth of Plants and a Story of Beginnings by Myriam Gurba
  • Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
  • The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
  • The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science by Kate Zernike
  • The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon
  • The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science & Poetry by Maria Popova
  • Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
  • What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
  • When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World by Jordan Thomas

Advisory Committee

The UCSB Reads 2027 Advisory Committee consists of UCSB faculty, staff, students, and community partners. The committee is charged with selecting a thought-provoking, interdisciplinary book by a living author that encourages a wide range of readers to engage with a contemporary social, political, cultural or scientific issue and can be incorporated into the UCSB curriculum. 

  • Christina Baglas: Senior Director of Development, UCSB Library
  • Christoffer Bovbjerg: Executive Director, Master of Engineering Technology and Leadership Program
  • Hailey Cadmus: Undergraduate Student, Communications
  • Christopher Dean: Faculty, Writing Program
  • Brian Donnelly: Faculty, English
  • Sara Kelly: Exhibitions & Events Manager, UCSB Library
  • Kenneth Kosik: Faculty, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
  • John Latto: Faculty, Biology, College of Creative Studies
  • Christine Le Forge: Exhibitions & Events Assistant, UCSB Library
  • Shirley Geok-lin Lim: Emeriti Faculty, English
  • Rebecca Metzger: Associate University Librarian for Learning & Engagement, UCSB Library
  • Lisa Neubert: Programming Librarian, Santa Barbara Public Library
  • Caitlin O’Hara: Associate Executive Director, Arts & Lectures
  • Miguel Penabella: Assistant Director, Carsey-Wolf Center
  • Lizzy Portillo: Undergraduate Student, Communications
  • Saakshi Porwal: Graduate Student, Physics
  • David Sherman: Faculty, Psychological & Brain Sciences
  • Johannes Steffens: Director of Communications and External Relations, UCSB Library
  • Emily Teter: Health Education Specialist, Health & Wellness

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