“Disliking Books” by professor of English and Education at the University of Illinois Gerald Graff outlines his belief that debate gives rise to critical thinking. First, he recounts his childhood aversion to books due to not being able to find their application and potentially being beaten up by his peers for indulging in them. Frustrated, Graff’s father attempts to force him to read many different books. Once he enters college, where similar boys are expected to get serious, he aimlessly pursues a major in English. At this point, Graff worries about failing and reads to sustain his grade; despite having read the assignments, he is unable to talk about it effectively. What first made literature appealing, however, was the debate over The
