One Book, One U 2027 subjectId: 690888

“World of Wonders”
by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

The University of Miami's One Book, One U selection for 2026-2027 is Aimee Nezhukumatathil's “World of Wonders,” a New York Times #1 bestseller and a Kirkus Prize Finalist for Nonfiction. A  poet celebrates the wonders of nature in a collection of essays that could almost serve as a coming-of-age memoir. The daughter of an Indian father and Filipino mother, Nezhukumatathil was often the only brown face in her classrooms, and she sought lessons from nature on how to adapt, protect herself, and conform or fit in but still be able to stand strong on her own. She shares those lessons throughout these frequently enchanting essays. Warm, lyrical, and gorgeously illustrated by Fumi Nakamura, World of Wonders is a book of sustenance and joy.

The One Book, One U program selects a book for each spring semester to provide a shared educational experience for our University community. Find information on upcoming events as well as research resources, dicussion guides, and more!

If you are a member of the University of Miami community, use the links below to get access to the eBook:

• Overdrive eBook

If you are a member of the South Florida community, check your local library to find a copy of the ebook available for check out.

If you are a member of the UM community, use the links below to get access to the eBook:

• Overdrive eBook

If you are a member of the South Florida community, check your local library to find a copy of the ebook available for check out.

Save the Date: Keynote Event with author Aimee Nezhukumatathil
February 25, 2027
Doors Open: 6 PM Program: 6:30 PM

Want more ideas and activities?  Reach out to the Learning Innovation & Faculty Engagement team at Academic Technologies!  Contact them at life@miami.edu.  Find more information on the Academic Technologies website.

World of Wonders Reader's Guide by Aimee Nezhukumatathil  (Discussion Questions)

Readings from "World of Wonders" with Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Video)

Author Aimee Nezhukumatathil talks about her book, ‘World of Wonders’ (Video)

Questions to Discuss for World of Wonders

1.  World of Wonders is Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s first work of nonfiction. What ways do you see poetic elements intertwine with memoir in this book?
2. Nezhukumatathil writes about her identity as an Asian American woman — often seen as an outsider by those around her. In what ways does she come to terms with feeling the pull to ‘blend’ in with her white classmates and friends?
3. World of Wonders speaks to the beauty and surprise of the natural world, along with the responsibility we hold toward it; Nezhukumatathil emphasizes the dangers facing nature as she wrestles with humanity’s impact on it. Where does her concern stem from? In what ways do you connect with her message?
4. There is a quality of nostalgia and reflection to World of Wonders. What memories resonate with you? As Nezhukumatathil reflects, what does she learn about herself?
5. From her parents teaching her about fireflies to being a professor at the University of Mississippi, Nezhukumatathil’s life is highlighted with her dedication to education. How does this dedication translate in her writing?
6. Motherhood is a prominent theme in World of Wonders. What is the connection being made between Nezhukumatathil’s experience as a mother and the call to protection she feels for her children and the world around her?
7. Nezhukumatathil writes of the influence of her Filipina and Indian heritage. How have the culture and traditions of her family shaped her?
8. World of Wonders captures a certain universality about life in each essay— the joy in the little things and the awe found in the world. What images resonate with you? What wonders stand out to you through the reading of this book?
9. Nezhukumatathil moved from one place to another, migrating across the United States, much like the monarch butterflies she writes about. What has this taught her about the importance of home, and what does it teach you?
10. Nezhukumatathil writes, “There is a time for stillness, but who hasn't also wanted to scream with delight at being outdoors?" [95] How do you see these two sides of Nezhukumatathil in her writing?