Professor Kiel’s Winter Break Book Club

Once exams are done, keep your mind active with this year’s edition of Professor Kiel’s Winter Break Book Club. This year, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the club will read “Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality” by Danielle Allen. According to a review, ““Our Declaration” sets forth a bold thesis. American society frequently sees the claims of liberty and equality as pulling in opposite directions; the more you have of one, the less you have of the other. Furthermore, in the battle between liberty and equality, the claims of individual liberty have generally trumped those of equality. Allen says this is a false dilemma. Liberty and equality are not parts of a zero-sum game, but two mutually supportive aspects of a common democratic culture.”

If you are interested in joining the book club, please notify Professor Kiel (dkiel@memphis.edu). Students who express interest by December 12 will be entered for 1 of 2 free copies of the book.