August 9th holds two profound meanings for me: it’s my father’s birthday, and it’s National Book Lover’s Day. The connection between these dates tells a story about legacy, love, and the transformative power of the written word. Each year as this day approaches I reflect on the power of reading and how my father instilled it in me.
When Words Become Memory
The last time I saw my father truly himself was during Christmas 2011. By then, several strokes had stolen his ability to read – the very thing that had defined so much of who he was. But as I wandered through our family home that quiet holiday evening, his books still lined every shelf, silent witnesses to decades of curiosity and growth.
I pulled volume after volume from their resting places, each one triggering a cascade of memories. Here was the history book that sparked our dinner conversation about World War II. There, the biography that led to his stories about perseverance. Opening each cover was like stepping into a time machine, hearing his voice again through the pages he had loved.
Two months later, on February 25, 2012, the legacy of those books became his lasting gift to me.
The Making of a Reader
My father embodied what author Jessica Hooten Wilson beautifully captures in her observation: “The manual labor of the past that allowed a human being to work in an embodied way, and to contemplate in heart and mind while working with one’s hands, encouraged the desire for reading after the physical exertions were completed.”
After twelve-hour days at his gas station, six days a week, my dad would settle into his chair with a book. Not occasionally – almost every single night. He understood something profound: that reading wasn’t just entertainment, it was essential nourishment for the soul.
This passion became the cornerstone of our family culture. As young children, every two weeks my mother would drive my brother and me to the library in the next town over. We’d return with armloads of books – I’d devour mine within days, then spend the remaining time impatiently waiting for our next literary pilgrimage.
That rhythm became my heartbeat. Elementary school, high school, college, graduate studies, decades into my professional life, and now accelerated in retirement – the weekly library visit remains sacred. Three or four books returned, three or four new adventures collected.
The Art of Deep Reading
National Book Lover’s Day isn’t just about celebrating our love of books – it’s about honoring the profound ways reading shapes us. I’ve discovered that the deepest rewards come not from reading widely, but from reading deeply.
Following Mortimer Adler’s wisdom in How to Read a Book, I practice what he calls synoptical reading – diving deep into subjects by consuming multiple perspectives on the same topic. It’s like being a detective, gathering clues from various sources to solve the mystery of understanding.
For over three decades, I’ve been conducting a synoptical investigation into Walt Disney and his revolutionary approach to creating experiences. My Disney library has grown to over 500 books, spanning from 1939 to last week’s latest releases. These aren’t just books about cartoons and theme parks – they’re masterclasses in vision, leadership, innovation, and human connection.
But Disney isn’t my only reading obsession. I maintain several “reading threads” – ongoing explorations of topics that fascinate me. Current deep dives include:
- Charting the evolution of hospitality in American culture
- What it means to be a “modern elder” in today’s world
- Biblical leadership principles of “shepherding” for contemporary challenges
- Discovering the “revolutionary” importance of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in the 1770s
Synoptical reading often plays an important role in the Wednesday Weekly Reader, so I’m devoting an article next week – stay tuned!
Reading as Revolutionary Act
In our age of infinite scrolling and bite-sized content, choosing to read a book is almost rebellious. It’s a declaration that depth matters more than speed, that contemplation trumps consumption.
Prior to retirement, most evenings I would continue my father’s tradition – settling in with a book after the day’s work is done. As I continue to adjust to my new lifestyle, one thing is a constant – reading has expanded! I may be researching topics like those above, or working on my other major website projects – concepts of First Place Hospitality and the Modern Elder. Other times, it’s pure pleasure reading, the kind that makes you forget time.
Thomas Edison understood this hunger for knowledge and put it this way: “I didn’t read a few books, I read the library.” That’s the spirit we need to recapture – not just reading for information, but reading for transformation.
Your Book Lover’s Day Invitation
This August 9th, how will you honor the books that have shaped you? Here are some meaningful ways to celebrate:
Create New Traditions:
- Start a synoptical reading project on a topic that fascinates you
- Host a book swap with friends who share your interests
- Write letters to authors whose work has impacted you
- Create a reading nook that invites daily literary escapes
Share the Love:
- Gift a meaningful book to someone who needs its message
- Volunteer with literacy programs in your community
- Share your favorite quotes using #NationalBookLoversDay
- Mentor someone just beginning their reading journey
Go Deeper:
- Revisit a childhood favorite with adult eyes
- Finally tackle that classic you’ve been avoiding
- Join or start a book club focused on challenging reads
- Practice the four levels of reading Adler describes
The Legacy Lives On
Every August 9th, I’m reminded that the greatest gift my father gave me wasn’t his collection of books – it was his modeling of what it means to be a lifelong learner. He showed me that reading isn’t just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about remaining curious, staying humble, and never stopping our growth.
In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, books offer something irreplaceable: the opportunity to slow down, think deeply, and connect with the vast tapestry of human experience. They remind us that we’re part of something larger than ourselves, contributors to an ongoing conversation that spans generations.
So today, pick up a book. Not just any book, but one that challenges you, changes you, or simply brings you joy. Turn the page with intention, knowing that somewhere, a future reader will be grateful for the path you’re helping to preserve.
After all, we’re not just book lovers – we’re the keepers of humanity’s greatest conversation.
What book will you turn to today? What conversation will you join? The pages are waiting.
Part of a regular series on 27gen, entitled Wednesday Weekly Reader.
During my elementary school years one of the things I looked forward to the most was the delivery of “My Weekly Reader,” a weekly educational magazine designed for children and containing news-based current events.
It became a regular part of my love for reading, and helped develop my curiosity about the world around us.
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