One Book One Town Underway In Fairfield

Via the Fairfield Public Library: FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Public Library and its community partners are happy to announce the One Book One Town selection for 2020 — "Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero" by Christopher McDougall. This year is the twelfth One Book One Town celebration in Fairfield. While a rescue donkey seems an unlikely hero, Sherman’s story also embraces the story of his owner and the friends they make along the way.

When McDougall agreed to take in a donkey from an animal hoarder, he thought it would be no harder than the rest of the adjustments he and his family had made after moving from Philadelphia to the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. When Sherman arrived, he was so sick he could barely move but McDougall decided to undertake a radical rehabilitation program designed to heal Sherman's body and mind. He decided to teach Sherman to run. He had heard about burro racing — where humans and donkeys run together in a call-back to mining days — and decided the goal would be for them to enter the World Championship in Colorado. "Running with Sherman" is the heartwarming story of that rehabilitation as McDougall and a community of others help Sherman transform from a scared, misunderstood animal into a confident champion and trusted companion.

McDougall covered wars in Rwanda and Angola as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press before writing his best-selling book, "Born to Run." His fascination with the limits of human potential led him to create the Outside magazine web series, “Art of the Hero.” He lives with his wife, two daughters, and a farmyard menagerie in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Don’t miss the chance to meet the author — McDougall will visit Fairfield to talk about "Running with Sherman" at 7 pm. March 9 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University. There will also be book discussions and other related programs preceding his visit.

The topic for the annual writing contest inspired by the One Book One Town book is: “The impact an animal has had on your life.” The contest is open to three age groups: middle grade (grades six to eight), high school and adult.

For more details on One Book One Town events and the writing contest, visit the library’s website at fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.

The One Book One Town book is chosen each year by a committee comprised of members of the Fairfield Public Library, the Pequot Library, Fairfield University, Fairfield University Bookstore, and the Fairfield Public Schools. The committee reads throughout the summer and fall to make their selection.

One Book One Town is made possible through the sponsorship of the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library, The Junior Women’s Club of Fairfield, the Fairfield Public Library, the Pequot Library and Fairfield University.