In this installment of A Man Should Know for The Free Press, Elliot Ackerman reflects on reading, the books that shape us, and the importance of finding the right book at the right moment in life.
Ackerman begins with his first great reading experience: discovering Ender’s Game as a boy after initially resisting the book. What began as an obligation became an encounter with the kind of story that stays with a reader long after the final page.
Finding the Right Book
Joined by Shilo Brooks, host of Old School, Ackerman considers how readers can find books that matter. Their discussion turns to classics, cultural literacy, and the works that endure because of their depth, richness, and lasting relevance.
Reading at the Right Time
The essay also explores how timing shapes a reader’s relationship to a book. Ackerman reflects on returning to works such as The Thin Red Line and The Road after war and fatherhood gave him new ways to understand them.
The Consolation of Books
At its center, the essay argues that reading is not a checklist or a performance. It is a form of personal consolation, discovery, and connection. A good book can challenge, comfort, and deepen a life when encountered at the right time.