Summary of Gerald Graff's Disliking Books at an Early Age
Gerald Graff was raised in a time and place where it was not appropriate to be a “bookworm” as he called it. He goes on to say he was unable to relate his experiences with books given to him by authority figures. Uninterested in the other options he majored in English at a university. He made good grades even without being able to critically analyze literature. The author asserts he was introduced to some
critic’s debates over literature that sparked his interest in literature. Listening to the debates he gained a point of reference that allowed him to read and analyze the literature on a deeper level. He then went on to teach English, were he claims he had an advantage, because he had lived a life without books unlike other teachers and was therefore able to relate to students in the same position and help guide them into the right direction.
Gerald Graff was raised in a time and place where it was not appropriate to be a “bookworm” as he called it. He goes on to say he was unable to relate his experiences with books given to him by authority figures. Uninterested in the other options he majored in English at a university. He made good grades even without being able to critically analyze literature. The author asserts he was introduced to some
critic’s debates over literature that sparked his interest in literature. Listening to the debates he gained a point of reference that allowed him to read and analyze the literature on a deeper level. He then went on to teach English, were he claims he had an advantage, because he had lived a life without books unlike other teachers and was therefore able to relate to students in the same position and help guide them into the right direction.