Cohort one
Hyderabad, 2027
165 students were selected.
At a glance
Who they are
Where they start from
More than half the cohort describes itself as lapsed or aspiring.
Books read in the six months before applying
What they want to read
Applicants were allowed to name more than one.
What gets in the way of reading
Applicants were allowed to name more than one.
What kind of experience would they want in TRY
Whether they would rather read alongside other people in the cohort, or on their own.
How this cohort was designed
Who could apply
Students aged 18 to 24, studying at a college in Hyderabad, with a valid student ID.
How places were allocated
Every application was read and checked against the eligibility rules. Places were then allocated among the eligible applicants by lottery.
The books
Fifty books for January to June, in three groups – 25 Stories, 15 Page-turners, 10 Ideas. For the second slate for July to December, we might swap out some titles from the first slate rather than replacing all the books – this will be driven by the experience of the first six months. Alongside the slate we offer a further 20 to 25 books that the applicants themselves suggested.
Getting the books
The first book is collected in person at Luna Books, so that every member starts the program with a visit to a bookshop. Subsequently, members have the option, each month, of collecting their book in person or to have it shipped to them for free in Hyderabad.
What we ask in return
A brief reaction to each book, and three short surveys: six months in, at the end, and six months after the program ends.
Key dates
Outcomes
During the twelve months, we will observe the students' choices, their preferences, reactions, what is working well and what is not. We will share any material observations here – aggregated and anonymized. Lessons from the pilot will likely influence the design of future cohorts.