If all goes according to plan, the Class of 2009 will have a wealth of knowledge about Penn's founder when it arrives on campus in September.
As part of the Penn Reading Project, all incoming freshmen will be required to read Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, which the inventor, statesman and printer began in 1771 at the age of 65.
"We talked about [the book] many times, but [Franklin's] 300th birthday seemed to make it the obvious time," PRP Director David Fox said, adding that the choice coincides with the tercentenary of Franklin's birth.
All students will receive a copy of the University of Pennsylvania Press version of the book in June. The version contains a preface by University President Amy Gutmann and Interim Provost Peter Conn, as well as essays by four Penn professors.
"It was a book where we have a particular link," Fox said of the University's connection to Franklin. He described the special edition, which is about 150 pages long, as "very funny and charming."
Fox also said the book was appealing because it "lends itself to multidisciplinary discussion," as Franklin led a multifaceted life.
Faculty members from all 12 schools will lead small group discussions about the book on Sept. 4, following lectures by three professors. The Penn Video Network will also be showing films related to Franklin's life during this period.
The Penn Reading Project has been a part of New Student Orientation for the past 15 years. Last year's book was Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. -- Rachel Feintzeig
