Ogden Honors College Shared Read Announced for 2023

By Madison Buchanan

Each year, the LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College selects a shared reading to introduce incoming students to the academic and intellectual culture of the Ogden Honors College through a common reading experience. Students then discuss the book in HNRS 2000 — an introductory honors seminar with a focus on critical thinking 

Inspired by the viral but unexpected appearance of sea life in a Miami Beach parking garage, The Octopus in the Parking Garage explores the disruptions climate change has already caused and the ways we will have to adapt. Verchick emphasizes that even though reducing climate change is critical, we must also build resilience and address the damage that has already been caused, especially in disadvantaged communities that have the greatest environmental risk.

Through Verchick’s commitment to “place-based” analysis, the book takes readers through Louisiana bayous, Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert, and coral reefs off Key Largo, Florida, to assess the damage seen in areas heavily impacted by climate change.

Robert Verchick is a leading climate law scholar who designed and implemented climate-resilience policies under the Obama administration, as well as a senior fellow in disaster resilience at Tulane University. He also holds the Gauthier-St. Martin Chair in Environmental Law at Loyola University New Orleans, is the president of the Center for Progressive Reform, and has written four books along with hosting the podcast “Connect the Dots.”

Current Honors students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in this shared learning experience. Incoming Honors students are required to read The Octopus in the Parking Garage by Monday, August 21.

Our academic year begins in the fall with Honors Convocation and an address by the author of the Shared Read text. The date and time of this year’s convocation will be announced at a later date.