“The Birth of Loud” Selected for One Book, One Community 2026

We are thrilled to join libraries and organizations in the Fargo-Moorhead area in announcing the selection for the 15th Annual One Book, One Community reading program. Drumroll please…The 2026 selected title is The Birth of Loud by Ian S. Port!

What’s Coming This Fall:

• Read the Book
  Reserve a copy of The Birth of Loud in your library’s catalog today!
• Events and Opportunities
  Explore the themes of the book with dozens of events held throughout the metro area, including book discussions, presentations and film screenings. The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, in celebration of this year’s focus on music, will offer complimentary tickets to library cardholders for the 2026-2027 Masterworks Concert Series. Cardholders can present their library card at the box office for one ticket voucher while supplies last that can be redeemed for up to two adult tickets and two student tickets once per season.
• Author Visit
  Mark your calendar for a special Author Visit featuring Ian S. Port on Thursday, October 22 held in Minnesota State University Moorhead’s newly renovated Weld Hall.

The Birth of Loud explores American innovation through the invention of the electric guitar and its impact on American music and the changes brought about by amplified music. The story follows, Leo Fender, a radio repairman, and Les Paul, a musician, as they compete to design the ultimate electric guitar, with Fender focusing on affordability and Paul on a more refined instrument. Their rivalry would lead to instruments that revolutionized post-WWII music, from the early days of rockabilly to the psychedelic era. Their designs were adopted by legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles.

Ian S. Port is an award-winning writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Village Voice, The Threepenny Review, and The Believer, among others. He is the former music editor of the San Francisco Weekly. A California native and lifelong guitar player, he splits his time between Northern California and Brooklyn, New York.

One Book, One Community brings our entire region together through a shared story, with free events for all ages. Visit 1book1community.org to learn more.