We have partnered with the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development to create a virtual book club for alumni and friends, covering career development, innovation, leadership and other professional growth topics in which the participants are interested. The book club will connect through a private forum where all participants can discuss the current book and network with each other. Joining is completely free; you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy.

1. Learn directly from author, Dr. Pauline Boss, at our Live Author Talk with her on November 20, 2024: Engaging with this narrative and the accompanying Q&A conversation with Dr. Pauline Boss promises a comprehensive journey. It will connect us as we examine the unrealistic nature of emotional closure in coping with loss and grief, and instead promotes an ongoing process of adapting to life's changes—an approach we hope will resonate long after the book is finished.

2. Connect with fellow alumni and friends: You will connect with alumni and friends across geographies, workflows, and generations, gaining different perspectives through reading and discussing the book's key themes. The network you’ll build may help you with career advice, introduce you to new people, and encourage new ways of thinking.

3. Reading is Good for You: Reading can reduce stress, help you sleep better, and improve your relationships [1]. Did we mention it also makes you smarter? Reading increases your verbal intelligence, reasoning ability, emotional intelligence, and your creativity. It has even been proven to defend against Alzheimer's disease [2].

What is a Professional Development One-Read and how is it different from a book club?

A book club is a group of people who meet to discuss a book that they have read and express their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. On the other hand, CEHD Alumni & Friends One-Read is a way for our college to commit to diving deeply into a selected topic once a year so that all CEHD alumni & friends have an opportunity to learn and connect together.

Participation is free for all CEHD alumni & friends!

Can anyone participate?

The CEHD Alumni & Friends One-Read Book Club welcomes all alumni and friends of the CEHD at the University of Minnesota.

Can I sign up anytime?

Yes, since this One-Read Book will conclude in November, it's encouraged to register and start reading as soon as possible to ensure you can fully participate before it ends.

What is the time commitment, and what are the expectations?

If you can dedicate one to two hours a week to reading, you should be fine.

Will there be any in-person meetings of the Book Club?

There are no in-person meetings planned at this time, but you will have the opportunity to hear directly from the author, Dr. Pauline Boss, during our live virtual Author Talk on November 20, 2024.

Is there any cost to participate?

Participation is free for all CEHD alumni & friends!

How do I get the books?

You will need to obtain the book on your own.

How will I discuss the books with other CEHD alumni & friends?

CEHD Alumni & Friends One-Read will have a moderator from PBC Guru who manages the forum where discussions occur online. The moderator will pose questions to participants, share relevant articles, and facilitate conversation about topics in the book. Members will be encouraged to post and share as well. This format allows for ongoing conversation and makes it easy for readers to connect with each other through a private community forum.

How do I make a profile on the forum?

We're using a private forum to host the asynchronous virtual discussion, so it's easy to connect with other alumni and friends. During our sign-up process, you’ll enter the information to auto-generate your free profile.

If you are already a member, you can click here to log in.

What exactly is PBC Guru and what do they have to do with the book club?

Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru is a book club management company that works with businesses, alumni associations and professional societies. We are teaming up with PBC to put this program in place for alumni and friends. You can check out their website at www.pbc.guru if you want to see more of what they do.

I've already signed up. How do I log in?

If you are already a member, you can click here to log in.