Dr. Fan Shen's book, Gang of One: Memoirs of a Red Guard, selected as the "Common Book" for the academic years, 2004-06, will be integrated into, or made supportive of, the course curriculum of a number of RCTC classes covering a wide variety of disciplines. The "common book concept" or approach puts forth a book (or books), usually chosen by an interdisciplinary committee, based upon certain criteria intended to support intellectual dialogue an debate and foster some sense of community-feeling throughout the campus.

    The common book is a book that:

  • Deals with a current and relevant issue or topic and holds general interest for the students.
  • Might be read and understood in smaller, discrete sections (i.e., some disciplines or classes might read one section only) so that the book can be adapted to, or included in, a wide variety of courses without demanding too much course time.
  • Can be approached from a variety of points of view by different disciplines thus giving students an opportunity to examine and discuss many aspects of a particular issue.
  • Readily elicits discussion on an analytical level.

Additional Information:

Calendar of Events Surrounding the RCTC Common Book & UCR Common Theme
Gang of One Study Guide
Gang of One Reading and Study Questions
Timeline of Events Relevant to Gang of One
Common Book Sample Assignments
Gang of One Book Reviews
Common Book Online Resources
About the Author, Dr. Fan Shen

Resources for the 2003-2004 RCTC Common Book, Fast Food Nation:
ESL Study Guide for Fast Food Nation
Fast Food Nation Book Reviews
Educational Resources