Gerald Graff Summary
In writing, Disliking Books at an Early Age, Gerald Graff begins his academic article with the general statement, “I have a certain advantage as a teacher of literature.” Graff further goes forward to tell us it is because of his fear and distaste towards books in his young adolescent years of his life. As a middle-class Jew he followed his social acceptations by furthering his education at a University, where he struggled to grasp an understanding, let alone a connection to his academic readings assigned within his classes. Graff clashed with society’s expectations to
the importance of reading. The fear of failure echoed in his mind with his incapacity to learn and ultimately would end up leading him to fail college. It wasn’t until he was introduced to academic criticism that he could finally read with meaning and take from the text a
better understanding. Poverty and fear of failure can be hard thing to cope with as a student struggling with academic text but Graff believes in all students. His article teaches students to read with a purpose and exposure to critical debate can help do just that.
the importance of reading. The fear of failure echoed in his mind with his incapacity to learn and ultimately would end up leading him to fail college. It wasn’t until he was introduced to academic criticism that he could finally read with meaning and take from the text a
better understanding. Poverty and fear of failure can be hard thing to cope with as a student struggling with academic text but Graff believes in all students. His article teaches students to read with a purpose and exposure to critical debate can help do just that.