The Reading Project

In the depths of eighth grade—a difficult time for me—my teacher Mrs. Williams called me up after class to chat. I wish I could ask her what she saw, but she clearly saw a student in distress. She gave me a book—Lord of the Flies—without any preamble. She just said that I might find it interesting.

Boy, did I. Lord of the Flies was a handbook to eighth grade. I recognized the kill or be killed struggle for domination. Lord of the Flies contains no self-help tips for the Simons and Piggies of life, but to see your experiences transmuted into a story can ease the loneliness, which is half the suffering. I owe Mrs. Williams so much, and I’m sorry I never told her. I had always read, but she helped make me a reader—a person who relied on books, stories, and novels to broaden my understanding of others and myself.

I’m no Luddite. I generally think computers are great. But the harms of social media are becoming undeniable. Meta and Google have lost major judgements. Countries around the world are banning social media for children. A small town in Ireland is even trying to make childhood phone-free. We’ll see how that goes! I suspect the harms are even more widespread—we just don’t study the effects on adults. I have certainly noticed with my own very high-functioning students—and frankly with myself—that certain sorts of attention and thinking are harder to sustain. We call the device in our hands a phone, but we all know it’s more like a portable slot machine, buzzing and blinging with the ever-elusive promise of happiness. Casinos have no sleep mode. The moment they let you reflect they lose money. Unfortunately, the incredible little computers in our pockets operate by the same logic.

So…I’m starting a reading group. I’m currently focusing on young men because their reading rates are plummeting at a particularly concerning rate, but I see value in this project for young women as well. (And people of all ages!) I want to begin by finding stories that speak to the dreams, hopes, and confusions of young men as they navigate adolescence and become adults. Mrs. Williams’s approach was so effective in part because she didn’t lecture me or try to plumb my soul. She invited me into a larger conversation–my favorite definition of a book–and changed my life. I want to channel her light touch.

And in case you’re wondering if books can really transform you as a person, here’s science.

More soon. In the meantime, you can help by recommending a book or story that has been life-changing for you!