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Exploring curiosity, citizenship and purpose: Ben & Me named Auburn’s 2026 Common Book

As part of its annual Common Book program, Auburn University has selected Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life as the 2026 Common Book, anchoring a shared academic experience for incoming students during the university’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Auburn’s Common Book Program introduces new students to the university’s academic community through a shared reading that encourages critical thinking, meaningful dialogue and engagement beyond the classroom. The selection of Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life aligns with the university’s America250 initiatives, inviting members of the campus and broader communities to reflect on the nation’s founding ideals and their continuing relevance to democratic life and civic responsibility. A key part of Camp War Eagle, complimentary copies of the book will be given to all incoming students during the university’s summer orientation programs along with copies to faculty and staff who request them.

Released in 2024, Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life is written by New York Times bestselling author and journalist Eric Weiner, a former international correspondent for NPR whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and Best American Travel Writing. By blending history with Franklin’s biography and personal reflection, the text visits the life of the founding figure as a curious, self-educating thinker whose habits of mind remain relevant today.

“At a moment when Auburn is reflecting on the ideals at the heart of the American founding, Ben & Me offers our students a thoughtful entry point into those conversations,” Jeff LaMondia, Common Book committee chair and professor of transportation engineering, said. “It connects Franklin’s lifelong pursuit of learning with the questions our students are asking as they begin their time at Auburn.”

Through Franklin’s writings, experiments and civic commitments, Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life explores themes central to the first-year college experience, including intellectual curiosity, resilience, ethical decision-making and engagement within diverse communities. By connecting Franklin’s approach to learning and public service to questions students often encounter as they begin their academic journeys, the text encourages students to reflect on broader questions of how education can serve both personal growth and how they define the common good.

As Auburn prepares to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial, the selection of Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life offers a unique foundation for campuswide conversation, helping incoming students connect the history of the American founding to their own responsibilities as learners and citizens. As part of the program’s events, the university hopes to bring Weiner to campus during the 2026-27 academic year.

Since its launch in 2010, Auburn’s Common Book program has offered first-year students an optional shared academic experience designed to spark dialogue and build community. Reimagined in 2024 to expand its reach across campus, the program now partners with local organizations and businesses, including the Auburn Public Library and independent bookstores such as Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers, Well Red, and Well Red: Second Story, to foster broader engagement through literature and conversation.

“Our Common Book program uses literature as a starting point for meaningful conversation across campus and the community,” said Jeff LaMondia, Common Book committee chair and professor of transportation engineering. “These events encourage participants to learn from one another and to explore important ideas through shared inquiry.”

Additional events connected to the 2026 Common Book will be announced and posted.