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A Summer Read

The 2021 Summer Read highlights resiliency

'You Belong' by Sebene Selassie
Transforming Health’s A Summer Read is “You Belong: A Call for Connection” by admired meditation expert Sebene Selassie.

The Transforming Health Summer Read project celebrates its 9th year in 2021. We’re excited to present You Belong: A Call for Connection by Sebene Selassie as this year’s selection. Our goal this year is to align Summer Read to compliment Transforming Health’s “Here With You”–a special campaign designed to promote physical and mental resiliency as we all grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. During these difficult times, there is one thing we know we can do – come together – virtually and hopefully soon in person. We can find ways to help the most vulnerable members of our community and encourage each other and our families to maintain our health and mental wellness. We feel You Belong is a great fit as it’s an inspirational book with a focus on connection.

We are not separate from each other. But we don’t always believe it, and we certainly don’t always practice it. In fact, we often practice the opposite—disconnection and domination. From unconscious bias to “cancel culture,” denial of our inherent interconnection limits our own freedom.

Sebene Selassie, author of 'You Belong'
Sebene Selassie, the author of Transforming Health’s A Summer Read selection.

In You Belong, much-admired meditation expert Sebene Selassie reveals that accepting our belonging is the key to facing the many challenges currently impacting our world. Using ancient philosophy, multidisciplinary research, exquisite storytelling, and razor-sharp wit, Selassie leads us in an exploration of all the ways we separate (and thus suffer) and offers a map back to belonging.

The book will be a conversation starter. All summer long readers throughout Central Pennsylvania will be encouraged to check out both digital and hard copies of the book from their local library and talk about it with friends, family, coworkers, and book discussion groups.


BEYOND THE PAGES

After reading the book, use this discussion guide (PDF) to continue the conversation with other readers.

'You Belong' discussion guide
‘You Belong’ discussion guide PDF

Visit any of the following libraries to borrow the book and complete the survey.

Events

Virtual events

Thursday, Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. — You Belong: Whether You Know It or Not
Hosted by York County Libraries
Topic: Self-comparison expectations vs. life comparisons. Watch now.

Thursday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. — You Belong: Here and Now
Hosted by York County Libraries
Topic: Heartfulness and mindfulness. Watch now.

Thursday, Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. — You Belong: Because You Matter (And So Do They)
Hosted by York County Libraries
Topic: Finding joy, acceptance and diversity. Watch now.

Thursday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. — You Belong: From Beginning to End
Hosted by York County Libraries
Topic: From birth to end-of-life care. Watch now.

Monday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. — A Summer Read: Beyond the Pages Author Event
Transforming Health reporter Keira McGuire will moderate a discussion and audience Q&A with author Sebene Selassie
. POSTPONED. New date to be determined.

In-person events

Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m. — Overbooked Book Club
Brandywine Community Library, 60 Tower Drive, Topton
The club will meet on the library porch. Learn more and RSVP.

Thursday, Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. — You Belong: With Us POSTPONED. New date to be determined.
Dover Community Center, 3700 Davidsburg Road, Dover
Explore tools to care for ourselves, others and our world. Learn more and RSVP.


A Summer Read is a unique community partnership of WITF’s Transforming Health and Central PA library systems with additional support from WellSpan Health and Capital Blue Cross.


Previous Summer Read selections include:

  • 2020-Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
  • 2019-A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
  • 2018-Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, Sam Quinones
  • 2017-Farmacology: Health from the Ground Up, Dr. Daphne Miller
  • 2016-The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life, Janice Kaplan
  • 2015-Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Atul Gawande
  • 2014-Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time, Brigid Schulte
  • 2013- The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, T.R. Reid