鈥楾he Small and the Mighty鈥� selected as U of I鈥檚 2025-26 Common Read
April 15, 2025
MOSCOW, Idaho 鈥� 麻豆视频入口在线观看 has chosen 鈥溾�� by as its Common Read for 2025-26.
鈥淭he committee chose 鈥楾he Small and the Mighty鈥� for its engaging storytelling,鈥� said Barb Kirchmeier, U of I鈥檚 director of General Education and Independent Study in Idaho. 鈥淲hile the book鈥檚 tone is conversational, the committee believes that students will find the book engaging and accessible. Its storytelling style makes historical content approachable.鈥�
McMahon earned a reputation as 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Government Teacher鈥� during the 2020 election for her viral efforts on Instagram to combat political misinformation. Committed to providing clear, nonpartisan insights on democracy, she has built a following of more than a million 鈥� affectionately called the 鈥淕overnerds鈥� 鈥� who rely on her for factual, logic-driven explanations.
The book鈥檚 summary says, 鈥淚n her debut book, (McMahon) tells the inspiring stories of 12 Americans 鈥� regular people with human foibles 鈥� whose extraordinary heroism in the face of mounting trials created the character of our country. With the same clarity and candor that鈥檚 earned her millions of fans, McMahon follows the daughter of formerly enslaved parents who sparked a reformation in Black education, a Japanese immigrant who nearly died in combat and became a consequential Senator, and even the electrician who saved her husband鈥檚 life. Her unforgettable prose and meticulous research tell the story of America from the perspective of the unsung heroes whose devotion to their country will restore your faith in the American dream.鈥�
鈥淢cMahon has a remarkable ability to make you laugh as you learn about the unsung heroes who shaped our country,鈥� bestselling author Adam Grant said of the book. 鈥淏y the end of the book, you won鈥檛 just be enlightened and entertained 鈥� you鈥檒l feel empowered by newfound confidence that you don鈥檛 need to be rich or famous to make a difference.鈥�
In addition to writing a No. 1 New York Times best seller, McMahon 鈥� a former high school government and law teacher 鈥� hosts 鈥淗ere鈥檚 Where It Gets Interesting,鈥� a podcast ranked in the top 1%, and writes the widely read newsletter 鈥淭he Preamble.鈥�
Now in its 18th year, the Common Read is designed to engage the university and Moscow community in a shared intellectual experience. Opportunities to engage with the Common Read will be provided throughout the academic year.
Other recent Common Reads have included 鈥淭he Anthropocene Reviewed鈥� by John Green, 鈥淭he Nature Fix鈥� by Florence Williams, 鈥淪o you Want to Talk About Race鈥� by Ijeoma Oluo, 鈥淕rit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance鈥� by Angela Duckworth, 鈥淭he Book of Unknown Americans鈥� by Cristina Henriquez, 鈥淭here There鈥� by Tommy Orange and 鈥淓ducated: A Memoir鈥� by Tara Westover.
Copies of 鈥淭he Small and the Mighty鈥� will be available later this summer through the and .
鈥�
Media Contact:
Barb Kirchmeier
Director of General Education and Independent Study in Idaho
208-885-9258
barbara@uidaho.edu
About the 麻豆视频入口在线观看
The 麻豆视频入口在线观看, home of the Vandals, is Idaho鈥檚 land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d鈥橝lene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.