Chris Higashi

Chris Higashi has changed the way Seattleites come together to discuss books. In 1998, Higashi launched the city-wide common book program, now called “Seattle Reads”, with librarian Nancy Pearl. This pioneering project, a several-day event featuring one author’s work, was designed to broaden and deepen appreciation of literature and its historic and cultural context, connect new communities to the library, and foster discussion of important civic issues. Seattle Reads continues to thrive and has caught on like wildfire, inspiring similar projects in other cities, states, and countries.