An Ohio man made a list of the 3,599 books he read in his lifetime. It has become an inspiration to book lovers everywhere.

After the death in July of their father, Dan Pelzer, at the age of 92, John and Marci Pelzer discovered something extraordinary in his things — a very long list of every book he had ever read.

Dan, a social worker from Columbus, Ohio, was in the Peace Corps when he started the list in 1962. And over the next six decades, his whale-sized appetite for books took him on a journey through the likes of James Michener, Jack Kerouac and Homer.

He learned about everything, from saints to sinners and prayer to prey. In total, from 1962 to 2023, he read a staggering 3,599 books. The list of all the titles is a book in itself: 109 pages long, single-spaced.

"When I looked through the list, it seems like a microcosm of his life," John told CBS News.

"He wanted to learn about the world and learn about other people," Marci added

Dan borrowed almost all his books from the Columbus Metropolitan Library. When the library staff heard about Dan's list, they decided to share it on social media. The library went through every title in his collection and made it available in its own list. 

"So the next time you need inspiration, perhaps you can find it from Dan," the library said in a video posted to social media. 

Columbus Metropolitan Library CEO Lauren Hagan told CBS News the public's response to the list has been "just incredible," adding that people have been "absolutely" coming in to check out the books Dan read.

"People are intentionally going up to the displays," Hagan said. "The traffic to the social media post is in the millions."

Source : https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-man-list-3599-books-he-read-in-lifetime-inspiration-book-lovers-dan-pelzer/

Comprehension

Who was Dan Pelzer, and what remarkable thing did his children discover after his death?
When and why did Dan begin keeping a list of the books he read?
How many books did Dan read between 1962 and 2023?
What does John Pelzer mean when he says the list was a “microcosm of his life”?
How did the Columbus Metropolitan Library respond after learning about Dan’s list?
What did the library do with Dan’s reading list for the public?
How did the public react to the list, according to the library CEO Lauren Hagan?
Why do you think Dan mostly borrowed books instead of buying them?

Discussion

What do you think motivated Dan to keep track of every book he read for more than 60 years?
How does keeping a record of books (or other habits) give insight into someone’s personality and life?
Do you prefer reading physical books, e-books, or listening to audiobooks? Why?
How can libraries play a role in inspiring people to read more?
What do you think are the benefits of reading widely across different subjects, like Dan did?
If you were to make your own lifelong list, what would you keep track of besides books?
How has social media helped stories like Dan’s reach and inspire more people?
Do you think schools should encourage students to keep a personal reading log? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Extraordinary – Very unusual or remarkable.
Whale-sized appetite – A figurative phrase meaning a very large or strong desire for something.
Staggering – Extremely surprising or impressive.
Microcosm – A small representation that reflects a larger whole.
Inspiration – Something that motivates or encourages action or creativity.
Absolutely – Completely, without doubt.
Displays – Arrangements or presentations of items for people to see.
Incredible – Difficult to believe; amazing.
Intentionally – Done on purpose, deliberately.
Response – A reaction to something.