Tom Wolfe is 'The Right Stuff' for Public Library Program

The Chicago Public Library's citywide book club, One Book, One Chicago, announced its fall 2008 book selection Thursday -- "The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe. Wolfe's 1979 book tells the story of Project Mercury, NASA's first attempt to send a man into space.

Library officials say that "The Right Stuff," which will be promoted through events in August and October, will appeal to teens and adults, and that its themes of science, technology and innovation make it a timely selection.

"It's so much about innovation and creativity that there are themes in the book that will always ring true," said Annie Tully, coordinator of One Book, One Chicago. The selection commemorates the 50th anniversary of NASA's founding and this year's fall kickoff of Science Chicago, a collaboration by more than 120 Chicago area institutions to promote science education and awareness in the city and suburbs.

"The Right Stuff" is the first non-fiction selection of One Book, One Chicago since Elie Wiesel's "Night" in 2002. The program's directors choose two books a year, which are usually fiction, but have also come from other genres. Wolfe's book won the American Book Award the year it was published and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

In August and October, free events including film screenings, lectures and panel discussions throughout the city will create awareness for the book. There will be a screening of the film adaptation of "The Right Stuff" in Grant Park on August 14. An exhibit of photographs and technical drawings of space vehicles is on display through November 1 at the Harold Washington Library Center.

Tom Wolfe will receive the Carl Sandburg Literary Award at the Chicago Public Library Foundation's dinner in October and will discuss his work at a free, public appearance on October 16.

"The subject of "The Right Stuff" may seem dated, but it's an apt selection, for Wolfe's commentary, his social eye, his turn of phrase," said Bill Handy, an instructor at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. "The Right Stuff is a fascinating story of a period -- a totally other time now -- with heroes and adventure. The prospect of more Chicagoans talking about 'The Right Stuff' is exciting."

With his book, "The New Journalism," Wolfe coined a term for journalists adopting literary styles, a common practice in the 1960s and '70s. "I would argue that [The Right Stuff] is very literary," said Tully, because Wolfe himself practiced the new journalism. "He sort of stole styles from the novels of the time," she said.

One Book, One Chicago was founded in 2001 to encourage Chicagoans to read the same book at the same time, and to discuss a piece of literature with each other. Nearly 2,000 copies of "The Right Stuff" are available at Chicago Public Library locations. Patrons can check out a Book Club in a Bag that contains eight copies of the novel and resource guides put together by the library.