Unread - by Oliver James (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

As a result of childhood learning disabilities and educational neglect, Oliver James graduated from high school and became one of approximately 45 million functionally illiterate Americans. However, at age 32, with big dreams and few tools to actualize them, he dedicated himself to learning the key skill that had evaded him his entire life: reading.

Oliver has become a TikTok/BookTok sensation for the way he's candidly documented his decision to learn to read as an adult, and his struggles and triumphs along the way. Here, he tells the full story behind his journey for the first time through the 21 key books that shaped and informed his experience. His story reveals the ways in which reading can teach each of us how to be better, more empathetic people.

In just 365 days, Oliver went from barely being able to read a restaurant menu to closing in on his goal of finishing 100 books in a year. Unread is a moving reminder to all of us that words and stories have power, and that, no matter our past, it's never too late to grow.

Review Quotes

Honest and thought-provoking, Unread is an inspiring, hopeful memoir of growth and change.--Booklist

"Unread feels like both story and concordance, a good read and a great resource for others who are on their way up the mountain of literacy. But mostly, this book is a testament to human will. It's a reminder that in order to enunciate resilience, one must learn the phonetics of desire, survival, and freedom. Oliver James is a marvel."--Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of the Track series

"An inspiring and deeply human story about resilience, courage, and the transformative power of literacy. . . . Oliver's honest and public journey, shared with millions online, has shone a much-needed light on America's literacy crisis. . . . He not only tells his personal story but reminds us that it's never too late to learn, to dream, and to rewrite your own story."--Andrew Roberts, President, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

"Oliver James is a big dreamer whose life was transformed through books--and he made the brave, bold choice to dive headfirst into wherever this would take him. . . . He's the living, breathing, thriving example of what reading can do for a person. Though Oliver found the light at the end of the tunnel, there are quite likely millions of children who are headed down the dark road he went through--but if their parents, educators, and leaders would read this memoir . . . there is still a chance to turn it all around for them, too. This raw, unfiltered deep-dive into the mind's eye of a man who has been through it all should be a must-read for educators of our at-risk youth."--I. C. Robledo, author of 365 Quotes to Live Your Life By

"Unread isn't just inspiration--it's motivation for each of us to become the hero of our own story. This book is a testament both to the power of reading and to the strength within all of us to overcome our greatest obstacles. Oliver James is a role model for us all."--Kelley Coleman, author of Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child

About the Author

Oliver James is a California-based personal trainer, motivational speaker, literacy activist, and influencer. He has been featured in or on Today, NPR, Jennifer Hudson Show, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Rachael Ray, and ABC News, among many others. Additionally, he is the recent recipient of the 2023 Barbara Bush National Literacy Award. He lives in Costa Mesa, California.