Reading Reflection

Reading Ladder

Emaan Yaqub

1. Autobiography of Malcolm X By: Alex Haley 466p

2. Like Hidden Fire: The Plot to Bring Down the British Empire By:Hopkirk, Peter 228p

3. Setting the East Ablaze: Lenin’s Dream of an Empire in Asia By: Hopkirk, Peter 272p

4. The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia By: Hopkirk, Peter 565p

5. Reactionary Liberty: The Libertarian Counter-Revolution By: Taylor, Robert 284p

6. Death of a Salesman By: Miller, Arthur 117p

7. The Essential Rumi By: Rumi 416p

I read mostly non-fiction this year. I enjoyed those books specifically because I could

actually learn something while reading. I especially enjoyed Peter Hopkirk's’ style of writing and

topics in particular. I found the Essential Rumi the most challenging book to read.I think it was

because of its ever changing poetic style, I had a difficult time trying to follow the narrative. Now

that I think about it, perhaps that is where I messed up. I should have read it for what it was,

instead of trying to force a linear storyline with a clear beginning and end upon it.
Reading Ladder
 I read 2374 pages of completed books and 2598 of uncompleted books. I read seven

completed books this year, and two uncompleted. If one does the math, were were supposed to

read about 6,200 pages this year. I got around 40% of the way there As I did plan on reading 20

books by the end of the year. I did not reach my goal. I made choices based on what interested

me, mostly historical nonfiction.

Reflection
 I have definitely read more this year as compared to last year. I plan on reading much

more this summer, especially in preparation of college. I will continue on reading historical or

political non fictions. I did not do as many conferences as I should have, but the ones I did do

went fine. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley was my favorite book because of how

inspiring it was, as well as it having an interesting story. I did not reach my stated goal of twenty

books this year. I don’t think I grew much as a reader since my preferred genre stayed the same.

Perhaps I only grew in quantity of reading.

Goodreads

Malcolm X review: Malcolm X is a person in continual evolution. Throughout the book,

his point of view, beliefs, and ethics are changed and challenged. Malcolm morphs from the

scum of society, to the very pillar holding it up. The book is from the first person view from

inside Malcolm's mind. His thoughts, reactions and a ideas are wide open for any ready to

dissect and discuss. The book is truly a personal experience as you feel as if you are in his shoes

and facing his struggle.

The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia review: The Great Game: The

Struggle for Empire in Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk is a fantastic read. The Book begins with

the defeat of Napoleon and the ends in the years right before the First World War. In that time,

Britain and Russia competed for strategic, economic and military domination of Central Asia,

and most importantly, India. Hopkirk tells of spies and agents sent by both sides to that region

and how they persuaded/Coerced native peoples to complete whatever task they were given. The
book itself is a mix between a history textbook and a James Bond novel. A great read for any

history buff.

September 21, 2017 – Finished Reading

September 21, 2017 –

page 466

100.0% "Malcolm X faces financial problems as he never took anything for himself from the

Nation of Islam, except for a house which they took away. He overworks himself trying to

provide for his family. Exhaustion from constant speeches, death threats and attempts on his life

sets in. Eventually he is gunned down by the Nation of Islam with possible "other" help."

September 21, 2017 –

page 395

84.76% "Malcolm X completes a hajj to Mecca. Here he learns of Orthodox Islam. It is his

experiences here bonding with people of all races including whites that he becomes less radical

and realizes that not all whites are devils. He travels all over the Eastern and African worlds

meeting with heads of states and forming bonds between Africans in America and Africans in

Africa."

September 19, 2017 –

page 324

69.53% "Jealousy and envy begin to catch up to Malcolm X as fellow minsters begin to believe

he is trying to steal the Nation for himself. Eventually a scandal rocks that Nation of Islam and

he is forced to stop speaking. Eventually after an assassination attempt he leaves."

September 18, 2017 –

page 286

61.37% "Update on page number"

September 18, 2017 –

page 194

41.63% "He is released from prison, and meets Elijah Muhammad. He becomes a fiery speaker

using his debate skills from prison. He begins opening up temples all over America and becomes

a minister and gets married. He begins to give interviews and speaks at colleges all over

America, rebuking "integration- hungry Negros"."

September 16, 2017 –

page 194

41.63% "Malcolm begins hustling again, and is bust by the police. He is sentenced to jail. In jail

he is introduced to the Nation of Islam and he immerses himself in the pursuit of knowledge of

the true history of the black people. His self-education pays of and he even begins proselytizing

to others about Elijah Mohammad."

September 14, 2017 –

page 138

29.61% "Malcolm is being hunted by West Indian Archie, the cops and Italian gangsters, so he

flees back to Boston, where his drug addiction becomes severe."

September 12, 2017 –

page 114

24.46% "Bit of a jump, basically he has become a criminal selling drugs and robbing people in

Harlem."

September 10, 2017 –

page 50

10.73% "He is drawn to the ghetto and gets a shoe shinning job."

September 10, 2017 –

page 50

10.73% "He went to an almost all white school where he was "popular" in the sense a pink

poodle in novel. He was in the top three in his class and wanted to become a lawyer, but his
teacher told him to be realistic about that. From then on he grew distant from this life and

eventually moved to Boston. He wonders around Boston's rich black neighborhood and notices

how hard they try to act white."

September 10, 2017 –

page 50

10.73% "The first 20 pages were centered on his early childhood, centering on the loss of his

father, to the slow disintegration of his mothers' mental state due to repeated visits from welfare

officials and their attempts to sow discord in their family and have the child removed to foster

care. The second have focuses on his young teen years and him growing up in a juvenile

detention facility and the foster parents."

September 7, 2017 – Started Reading

September 6, 2017 – Shelved as: to-read

September 6, 2017 – Shelved