Bringing about a Reading Revolution

The Reader Organisation

Epic of Gilgamesh Tablet I.I will teach about him who experienced all things,Ana granted him the totality of knowledge of all.He saw the Secret, discovered the Hidden,he brought information of the time before the Flood.He went on a distant journey, pushing himself to exhaustion,but then was brought to peace.

Find the copper tablet box,open the lock of bronze,undo the fastening of its secret opening.Take and read out from the lapis lazuli tablethow Gilgamesh went through every hardship.

If a person cannot ‘think’ with his thoughts, that is to say that he has thoughts but lacks the apparatus of ‘thinking’ which enables him to use his thoughts, to think them as it were, then the personality is incapable of learning from experience. This failure is serious. Failure to eat, drink or breathe properly has disastrous consequences for life itself. Failure to use emotional experience produces a comparable disaster in the development of the personality.

W.R.Bion, Learning From Experience

It's made me think how important imagination is for the young people as well as physical stuff. Without imagination you can't think. It can help you understand things. It's like the power to think ahead. We've got to give this to the young people.’ (Katie, Youth Worker, Norris Green)

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced or cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the horror of the shade,And yet the menace of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,How charged with punishments the scroll,I am the master of my fate,I am the captain of my soul.

YMCA - millions

Grim St James’

OECD report:

Reading for pleasure is the single greatest indicator of social mobility – more important than socio-economic class or education. Those who read for pleasure are less socially isolated, more understanding of others and more likely to participate in community activity. People who can express themselves with words are less likely to express themselves with anti-social behaviour. Conversely, those who do not read for pleasure are more likely to fail at school, suffer mental health problems, and be at risk of offending

4 Mechanisms of action :

1. Rich quality of literature2. Skill of facilitator3. Support of group4. Location - community