Readers for Life

A collection of essays that explores how reading shapes an individual’s life. How does the act of reading shape an individual? In this stimulating book, fiction authors and literary scholars reflect on their memories of reading to explore that question, from their childhood and adolescent years into adulthood and beyond. Instead of focusing on reading as an act of escapism, or mere literacy, these writings celebrate reading as a lifelong, joyful experience that intertwines past and present. By revealing our diverse reading histories, the collection fosters awareness of the profound impact of reading on a person’s development and offers readers insights that will enrich their own literary experiences. Introduction by Sander L. Gilman and Heta Pyrhönen, with essays by Natalya Bekhta, Peter Brooks, Philip Davis, Linda and Michael Hutcheon, Sander L. Gilman, Daniel Mendelsohn, Laura Otis, Laura Oulanne, Heta Pyrhönen, Michael Rosen, Salman Rushdie, Cristina Sandu, Pajtim Statovci and Maria Tatar.