Skip to content

When I was a kid, we had this great advantage of there…

“When I was a kid, we had this great advantage of there being no YA books. You read kid books and then went on to adult books. When I was 12 or 13, I read all of Steinbeck and Hemingway. I thought I should read everything a writer writes.” quote by Mark Kurlansky
Download Open image
“When I was a kid, we had this great advantage of there being no YA books. You read kid books and then went on to adult books. When I was 12 or 13, I read all of Steinbeck and Hemingway. I thought I should read everything a writer writes.”

Mark Kurlansky

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Highlights the value of reading broadly from children’s to adult literature to develop a writer’s foundation.

In simple terms: Read widely across ages to become a better writer.

Key Takeaway

Read diverse books early and often.

Themes

reading education development

Mood

curious inspired

Type

educational reflective

When to use this quote

  • school curriculum
  • self‑education
  • writing workshops
  • library programs

Key Concepts

Literary canon growth mindset cultural literacy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does varied reading affect your writing?
  • What classics should be re‑introduced today?
A Different Perspective

Modern YA dominance may limit exposure to classics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Mark Kurlansky

Explore all 193 Mark Kurlansky quotes

More Being quotes

Browse all 18,139 Being quotes