We’re very pleased to announce the first-ever book for the first-ever Big Something Book Club: Jon Krakauer’s Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman.

More about why we chose this book below. But first, here are a few simple things we hope our book club will do:

1). Foster the reading and discussion of books about subjects and ideas that pertain to the life and culture of the Pikes Peak Region.

2). Bring together people of diverse backgrounds to discuss these books and to enjoy one another’s company and perspectives.

3). Support local book stores.

We believe these aims are noble and we hope you do, too!

The Big Something book club will meet once every two months at the bookstores listed below and here online in the comments section. We understand that books can often be slightly less expensive online or at the large discount chains, but we encourage you to buy books at the nearest locally-owned bookstore. To that end, we’re collaborating with three locally-owned bookstores in Colorado Springs (bookstore owners outside the Colorado Springs area should feel to contact us if you wish to partipate):

1. Black Cat Books at 720 Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs, (719) 685-1589.

2. Poor Richard’s Bookstore at 320 N. Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs, (719) 578-0012.

3. Hooked on Books at 3918 Maizeland Rd. in eastern Colorado Springs (at Maizeland & Academy in the Maizeland Moors Shopping Center), (719) 596-1621.

All of these excellent locally-owned bookshops have kindly agreed to stock ( and/or order) the books and to host the book club meetings in their shops.

The first Big Something Book Club meeting will take place at all three of the above locations on Thursday, December 3 at 6 p.m. (if you aren’t in the area, we’ll also have a discussion throughout the day here on KRCC.org).

Now, here’s why we chose Jon Krakauer’s Where Men Win Glory as the first book for The Big Something Book Club:

1). Krakauer’s latest book is, in a part, a very accessible, concise history of the war in Afghanistan that continues to dominate headlines and continues to directly affect the lives of locally-based troops and their families.

2). It’s also a carefully researched elucidation of Pat Tillman, a far more complex and sensitive individual than the sensationalist headlines ever allowed.

3). We feel the book raises compelling issues about the timeless nature of war.

We invite you to pick up order your copy today and join us in person at one of the three locations listed above or online on Thursday, Dec. 3.

See you then!

(Feel free to leave comments or questions below or to email us at thebigsomething@krcc.org. Thanks!)