Notes and Links to Oliver James’ Work

Oliver James is a literacy advocate and motivational speaker who has been sharing his journey about learning to read as an adult, through TikTok and Instagram. Through videos and posts, he has been charting the books he’s read, and the lessons he’s learned and relearned. He has been featured on The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Today Show, NPR, and more.

At about 1:25, Oliver talks about feedback he has gotten from early readers of Unread

At about 2:35, Oliver responds to Pete’s question about vulnerability in writing the book and presenting the book to the world

At about 4:00, Oliver talks about his social media availability and upcoming tour stops

At about 5:20, Pete asks Oliver about the book’s Dedication and important epigraph; Oliver expands upon the connections between reading and exercises

At about 7:40, Oliver talks about the emotions at the moment after he shared with his social media followers that he couldn’t read, in 2021

At about 10:00, Oliver explains how he would get by when being called on to read in school

At about 12:20, Oliver replies to Pete’s question about good ways for people to start learning to read/cement their developing reading skills

At about 15:00, Oliver talks about his singing and reading and other things that he does on Tik Tok Live and Instagram

At about 16:10, Oliver and Pete discuss

At about 18:00, Pete highlights Oliver’s great book recommendations throughout his book, and particularly connections between The Giver and Oliver’s pains and triumphs in learning and reading

At about 21:45, The two discuss missing important learning opportunities and learning cycles in adolescence

At about 23:15, Oliver talks about “creating [his] own identity” based on what teachers and other authority figures sometimes told him, subtly or not

At about 24:40, The two discuss how The Phantom Tollbooth connects to Oliver’s reading and learning journey

At about 26:30, Oliver gives background on how a speech class gave him more confidence and how it led to speech becoming a vocation

At about 29:50, Oliver reflects on what might have been different had he been a reader when he was set up in a sting operation

At about 31:50, Oliver explains how people in jail gave him hope and how this experience connects to the character of Zero in Holes, particularly with regard to a sense of “duty” and community learning

At about 33:50, Oliver highlights Dirty Laundry and shame and relationships with girls and dependence

At about 37:20, Oliver talks about the importance of a quote book that was his first gifted book and the “helpless[ness]” that came at the beginning of the COVID pandemic

At about 43:20, Oliver makes connections between COVID and “how to carry” on his reading and emotional journey

At about 44:20, The Diary of Anne Frank and The Outsiders and ideas of reading and being in community with readers and reading is discussed

At about 45:40, Pete gives a rec for one of his all-time favorites, That Was Then, This is Now

At about 46:20, The two discuss the Piiraha people and “living in the moment” based on Oliver’s car accident and other traumatic and triumphant moments

At about 51:00, Pete highlights The Alchemist and ideas of how books “unlock” so much, and expands upon the “agreements” featured in Don Ruiz’s books, in particular with regards to his father

At about 54:30, Empathy is discussed, as experienced in reading and in life, and love and thanks for his mother

At about 56:10, Oliver reflects on children’s books and “tap[ping] into emotions” and “be[ing] a kid”

At about 1:00:30, Pete highlights ways in which Oliver gave him a different perspective on finishing a book and on the classic The Giving Tree

At about 1:02:10, Oliver responds to Pete’s questions about his feelings upon meeting famous people for interviews, like Jennifer Hudson

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The episode airs on February 24 or 25.

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