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A Morning Edition Book Club - What A Great Idea!

Deep Down Dark hector tobar
Hector Tobar

Dear UPR reader,

For those of us in the West, mining resources and safety are key perennial topics. Hector Tobar's 2014 release, Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free, addresses mining issues pertinent to Utah's history and present day conversations. UPR would like to explore the Utah response to this deeper look at mining and the human experience.

Join UPR in the creation of a "UPR Chapter," if you will, to the Morning Edition Book Club. Contribute to the uniquely Utahn perspective on the book. Together we can submit questions to NPR for consideration in Morning Edition's on-air discussion with Hector Tobar on January 20.

Ways you can enjoy this riveting read with the UPR community:

  1. Take a look at the NPR Morning Edition Book Club guide.
  2. Before you read, note what you remember about the 2010 Chilean mining accident.
  3. Acquire the book through your favorite bookstore, library, or device.
  4. Read at your leisure, if you can. I wasn't able to put it down.
  5. Share your observations, questions, comments below or, via Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with #UPRChapter.
  6. Tune into Access Utah Jan. 14 for a Utah discussion of the book.

I remember being mesmerized by the story in real time. I couldn't wait to get home from work to scan media for the latest update. My public radio colleagues teased me about turning into a BBC groupie because I had come to rely on Tim Willcox's extensive live coverage of rescue attempts. I recall his interview with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera.
This event tapped into complex and universal concerns in industry, politics, and economics, among others. International relations and resources became essential in solving unprecedented challenges. And at it's heart, the Chilean mining accident showed us a compelling story about survival, collaboration, faith, and the determination of community united in hope.

Hoping to hear your views,

Peg Arnold