Summary Of Beyond The Culture Wars By Gerald Graff

In his book “Beyond the Culture Wars: How teaching the conflicts can revitalize American education” Gerald Graff, describes his experience in his youth of disliking books and the discourse of literature. The excerpt “Disliking Books” from that book shares the story of Gerald’s experience with early education to his collegiate experience which then later inspired him to become a literature professor. Through sharing his experiences in his youth and at college Graff shares the added value that can come through adversity and education.

Born into an educated middle-class Jewish family in an ethnic area of Chicago, a rougher side of town. Graff early on realized that education on an elementary level and intelligence, would cause him physical harm and to be best avoided. He could not immerse himself into the subject matter of his books, no matter what the subject. Literature, history, even the “Hardy Boy’s, could not interest Gerald, the only thing he enjoyed his comic books and sports magazines. His father was frustrated with his lack of interest in literature, and always would try to encourage more force Gerald to read even walking him in his room to try to read a book on Magellan.

It would be unacceptable for him to fail in college in his family’s eyes. Even with his good grades Gerald still failed to finish many assigned classics like, the Iliad and Passage to India. As his education furthered Graff realized that his disinterest in books sprung from with an inability to discuss the ideas and the concepts of the literary works. what was he to say about the literary works and why” this fear of sounding hallowed, still and stupid in