The Unitarian Universalist Association organizes a Common Read program for UU congregations every year. When we do a UU Common Read together, we share in reflection, learning, and action. A Common Read can take us on a powerful journey into what it means to be human and accountable in a world filled with both pain and joy.

At UUSB, the common read program usually looks like congregants reading their text and then participating in either one extended workshop or a series of workshops. These workshops help us integrate the learnings from this text more deeply into our understanding of ourselves as individuals, as community members of UUSB, and as citizens of our larger communities.

Common Read Books we have engaged with recently include:

Common Read 2025-26: Social Change Now!

The 2025-26 UU Common Read is Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection by Deepa Iyer (Skinner House).

Unitarian Universalists are invited to explore Iyer’s work through the lens of our UU faith and shared values. Participants explore Iyer’s Ecosystem model, the roles that comprise it, and how these can support the congregational community and, in turn, our role in wider communities where we work with others for social change.

Common Read 2024-25: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families

The book offers life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, alongside their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members. Through interviews and photo portraits, the subjects of this book invite readers into their real lives—their revelations, challenges, joys, and networks of support.

This UU Common Read invites participants to tell their own stories and deepen understanding of how gender identity has shaped their lives. Participants explore what it means to live authentically and how connections among us help us thrive.