Living Writers

Since 1980, Living Writers has been a for-credit, on-campus course for 50+ undergraduates. Since 2010, it has also been a self-paced, not-for-credit program for alumni, parents, and friends of Colgate. A passion for reading is the only prerequisite.

This fall, we’ve picked 10 life-changing works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by 10 acclaimed writers. We rarely curate the list around a particular question or theme — instead preferring to let one burble to the surface as we read. This year, the phrase “architecture of longing”— coined by Hanif Abdurraqib, winner of a MacArthur “genius” award and author of There’s Always This Year — seems especially resonant. Everyone we've encountered in these pages is hankering after something, whether it's community, connection, freedom, safety, education, beauty, happiness, transcendence, or something else.

Join us at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18 for a look back at this year's series. What were the memorable moments? What, if anything, surprised you? Got any suggestions for Living Writers '25? We’re looking forward to getting together one last time in 2024.

Living Writers is hosted by the Department of English and Creative Writing with generous support from the Olive B. O'Connor bequest as well as the Office of the President, and the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculty.

Living Writers co-sponsors in 2024 include the Poetry Series; the Sio Chair in Diversity and Community; Colgate Men's Basketball; the Sylvia Ellins Fund; Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; Africana and Latin American Studies; Asian Studies; LGBTQ Studies; and the departments of Art, Computer Science, and Educational Studies.

Living Writers is made possible every year with support from the Office of University Communications and from ITS.

2024 Living Writers Book List

September 5

September 12

September 19

September 26

October 3

October 17

October 24

October 31

November 7

November 14

Questions?

Book Copies

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