The Power of Nonfiction: A Revolutionary Reading Experience

During a semester program on a farm, the speaker's English curriculum focused on contemporary nonfiction, which was a revelation for them. They discovered the power and impact of literary nonfiction, exemplified by books like John McPhee's 'Control of Nature' and Jonathan Reben's 'Badland.' This experience opened their eyes to the potential of journalism as a storytelling medium and helped shape their career as a journalist. Additionally, reading Jonathan Kozol's 'Savage Inequalities' in high school provided a profound understanding of the disparities in public education and ignited a desire to better understand and advocate for social issues.