Disliking Books Summary In Gerald Graff’s work “Disliking Books” the author explains how he is surprised that he would become a celebrated writer and literary critic because he formerly despised reading. Graff, who grew up in a tough working class Chicago neighborhood, grew up thinking reading was boring and irrelevant. Graff’s parents brought him modern adventure books and classics that have traditionally interested young men, but it didn’t work. Since he was listless and lacked ambition Graff “chose” liberal arts and majored in English when he started college. Graff struggled mightily through his studies since he still hated books. His love for reading began when he discovered literary criticism. The realization that the great authors