Paideia Summer Reading

In conjunction with the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the U.S., the Paideia summer read is 'I Talk About It All the Time,' an unflinching and lyrical exploration of what it means to belong, by Norwegian Gambian performance artist, playwright and author Camara Lundestad Joof.  

 

Join the Conversation

Book cover for I Talk About It All the Time by Camara Lundstad JoofCourtesy of the Paideia Program, first-year and transfer students will be mailed the book in mid-July. Don’t forget to complete your reading before you arrive on campus in August. You will also get to hear from Camara Lundestad Joof in person! She is traveling to Decorah to give the opening convocation talk for the 2025 academic year.

Summer Reading Guide

I Talk About It All the Time is the first reading assignment for Paideia 111. A reading guide will be provided with your book. Use the background and study questions to guide your reading and prepare for class discussions.

2025 Paideia Summer Reading Guide — coming this summer.

About the Book

An unflinching and lyrical exploration of what it is to belong, I Talk about It All the Time was published in 2018 in Norwegian and translated into English in 2024 by Olivia Noble Gunn.

About the Author

Camara Lundstad Joof portraitCamara Lundestad Joof is a Norwegian Gambian performance artist, playwright, and author. She is the artistic director of Dramatikkens Hus (The Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting), the national development and resource center for new dramatic writing. She is also a member of the Norwegian Arts Council. From 2020 to 2024, she was the playwright in residence at the National Theatre of Norway.