Plano Reads: Join Second Tuesday Book Club on June 11 for ‘The Measure’

Second Tuesday Book Club will meet in person and on Zoom from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, in the public conference room at Schimelpfenig Library, to discuss our sixth book of 2024, The Measure, by Nikki Erlick.

The Measure provides us with an exploration of a very unique concept of what it means to know the length of one’s lifespan; of knowing when you will die. It forces you to confront your own mortality, as well as the mortality of those you love, and allows for moments of consideration of what it means to truly live.

The Measure, was an Instant New York Times Bestseller upon publication in June 2022 and was selected as The TODAY Show’s #ReadWithJenna Book Club pick and the Barnes & Noble Discover Pick.

Please email Alice McGoldrick at amcgoldrick@plano.gov or Nicole Border at nborder@plano.gov or you may call Schimelpfenig Library at 972-769-4200, if you have questions or comments.

We look forward to seeing you at the library or on Zoom!

The Measure, by Nikki Erlick

Available as Print | Large Print | eBook | eAudiobook

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.

In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest. – ©2022 Nikki Erlick (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

“Perfect for book clubs, Erlick’s The Measure is equal parts charming and thought-provoking. It takes a philosophical question—what if everybody on earth knew exactly how long they had left to live?—and explores, with compassion and pragmatism, how the implications would trickle down into every area of modern life, from politics to intimacy.”
— Marie Claire

“Erlick compellingly and captivatingly explores each facet of human nature, from hatred to heartbreak to hope.”
— Library Journal

“Nikki Erlick’s debut will have us all living life to the fullest, treasuring every moment, and keeping an eye out for her next book!”
— Barnes & Noble

While The Measure, is Nikki Erlick’s debut novel, she is not new to writing. Her previous work has appeared in the New York Magazine, Newsweek, The Huffington Post, Literary Hub, Indagare Travel, BrookTrib, and Vox Media.

As a travel writer, she explored nearly a dozen countries on assignment—from rural villages in France to the arctic fjords of Norway. As a ghostwriter, she has written for CEOs, academics, and entrepreneurs. She graduated from Harvard University summa cum laude and is a former editor of the Harvard Crimson. She earned a master’s degree in Global Thought from Columbia University. 

Read more about the author on her website.