Common Read
NSU IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE ITS COMMON READ FOR 2026
The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
From America’s favorite government teacher, a heartfelt, inspiring portrait of twelve ordinary Americans whose courage formed the character of our country.
In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks. Not the presidents, but the telephone operators. Not the aristocrats, but the schoolteachers. Through meticulous research, she discovers history’s unsung characters and brings their rich, riveting stories to light for the first time.
You’ll meet a woman astride a white horse riding down Pennsylvania Ave, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter, a poet on a train, and a teacher who learns to work with her enemies. More than one thing is bombed, and multiple people surprisingly become rich. Some rich with money, and some wealthy with things that matter more.
This is a book about what really made America – and Americans – great. McMahon’s cast of improbable champions will become familiar friends, lighting the path we journey in our quest to make the world more just, peaceful, good, and free.
About the Author: Sharon McMahon
A #1 New York Times-bestselling author, award-winning educator, founder, and philanthropist, I'm redefining how we communicate by turning confusion into clarity, inspiring change, and teaching others how to take action by doing the next needed thing. A longtime government and law educator, I became known as America's Government Teacher during the 2020 election when I went viral for breaking down complex topics with a steadfast commitment to the facts. With equal parts levity and gravitas, I have attracted a community of millions of followers – affectionately called the "Governerds."
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A common read helps to create connections among students, faculty, and staff. Having a common topic of discussion can frequently start conversations, expand viewpoints on complex issues, or introduce new ideas. Students learn and universities thrive through discussion, research, and critical thinking.
NSU started its Common Read experience in 2016 to promote a shared experience in learning and literacy for the NSU community and its stakeholders. All first year freshmen participate in Common Read activities and assignments during UNIV 1003 University Strategies, and all interested faculty are encouraged to incorporate the text into their curriculum as appropriate.
The Common Read committee, which includes faculty, librarians, staff, and students, identifies potential books for the next year.
These books are read by committee members and others, and the list is narrowed to three to four finalists. Selection criteria include appeal and relevance to students; cross-disciplinary content; accessibility, reading level, and length, as well as reviews and supplemental materials. The finalist list is shared with the entire campus who can vote and provide feedback through a survey. The final selection is made in December. During the spring semester, the committee works to identify course and campus activities that support the use of the Common Read in the curriculum.