"Beach Books 2016-17," which covers 348 colleges and universities, continues the National Association of Scholars' long-running record of providing the most comprehensive information about colleges and universities that assign common readings to incoming freshmen. Although there are several databases of common reading assignments, Beach Books is the only series that categorizes the books according to their main subjects and tracks trends in genres, publication dates, and additional themes. Beach Books also examines the larger administrative programs that have developed around common readings, such as library guides, lectures, and social media campaigns. The National Association of Scholars believes that common reading programs are a good idea in principle. At a time when core curricula have largely disappeared, a common reading assignment can provide at least an abbreviated substitution that may introduce students to rigorous intellectual standards, inspire them to read further and better than they otherwise would, and foster intellectual friendship on campus. The choice of a classic work can also serve to introduce students to the tradition formed by the best works of Western civilization. This report offers critiques of common readings as they actually are, so as to offer guidance for how they may reform themselves along this better model. Yet while many colleges and universities declare that common readings are important because they set academic expectations, begin conversations, and encourage critical thinking, they usually embed these goals within larger aims to foster community on campus and student activism in the outside world. Common reading programs are dedicated to these non-academic goals. It's in their mission statements. This year the report focuses on common reading programs' administrative structures. While previously noted that common reading programs are associated with administrative sponsors such as Offices of Diversity, this background in depth had not been explored--until now. Discoveries have caused substantial revisions to recommendations for common reading programs. [For the previous edition, "Beach Books: 2014-2016. What Do Colleges and Universities Want Students to Read outside Class?," see ED580914.]