My Initiation Into Reading as an Athlete

My Initiation Into Reading as an Athlete

​One Saturday, my uncle asked me what book I was reading.  I said, “Oh no, I don’t read books.”
Slightly agitated, he said, “You don’t read books?  Why not?” 

“Oh they’re just not my thing.  They’re boring.”   

“They may be boring at times, but I believe everybody should have a book they’re in the middle of reading.”

“Okay.”

He looked at me with a skeptical eye, “Okay, there’s a book that I want you to read.  I really think you’ll like it.”

“What is it?” 

“It’s called On The Road by Jack Kerouac.  I think you’d relate to it.”

“Okay, I’ll read this book…for you.  Then I’ll tell you what I think of it afterwards.”

“Okay, that’s perfect.”

My days were free so I opened up the book and started reading.  The writing was weird but I kept reading and actually started to like it.  The main character was a guy who traveled across America, something I had just done.  I read the book day and night until I finished.  I told my uncle I enjoyed it.  I wanted to read more, but only quality books. 

Barely having any money, I went to the public library nearby and got a card.  Skimming the books, I noticed The Autobiography of Malcom X by Alex Hayley.  I knew Malcolm X was badass and thought it would be an interesting story.  So I checked it out.    
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The story was so real, like I was standing right next to him during his experiences.  At one point, he went to jail for a few years.  Instead of wasting his time though, he read every book he could get his hands on.  At that moment, I felt like Malcolm X.  In Evanston I didn’t know anybody, barely had any money, and didn’t have a job.  What I did have though was a library card.  And for the rest of the summer I tried to be like Malcolm X, reading whatever I could get my hands on.  

This was my initiation into reading as an athlete.