Refining the earlier Academic Prelude program, the Life of the Mind program began in 2003. It is a summer reading assignment of a book chosen to foster discussion among freshmen, followed by discussions during Welcome Week activities and throughout the year. Faculty and staff volunteers lead the discussion groups. The first book chosen—by a faculty panel—was The Color of Water, by writer and jazz musician James McBride, who came to UT to speak at Torch Night and also presented a concert.