It was just after dawn, and TikTok’s unlikeliest literary hero was running late. Oliver James, 34, backed his white Ford cargo van into his favorite spot at Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve in Orange County, his face aglow in the autumn sunlight as he rushed to set up his first livestream of the day. He tugged a makeshift curtain behind the driver’s seat, snapped his cellphone into a mount by the side mirror, and pulled a gently loved paperback from his knapsack.“It’s a new day, a new start, ” James told the camera, flipping to page 190 in “Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl” as hundreds of strangers logged on. “We’re going right up to the top — can’t waste no time! ”With that, he began reading aloud from the 75-year-old memoir — a book that everyone in the audience had read. James is not a mellifluous reader, though he shares the blinding smile and infectious energy of other viral creators on the popular video app. A personal trainer by trade, he has never penned a bestseller, taught English, studied library science or appraised a first edition. Yet his six-figure following puts him in a rarefied tier of “BookTok” influencers, ahead of the New York Public Library, The Last Bookstore and all the “Big Five” publishers combined.“I snuck in through the back door, ” he said of his sudden success. “I snuck in from the back and have more followers than most #BookTok people. ”Indeed, his meteoric rise among the app’s literary luminaries has proved the year’s biggest plot twist. It began with five words.“What’s up! I can’t read. ”If you’ve made it this far, you likely have little memory of how you learned to read. Partly, that’s a function of mechanics: Formal phonics instruction, which builds literacy from letters and sounds, is only newly in vogue among today’s grade-schoolers, after decades of disfavor in American education. In California, it was not taught at all from the Reagan era through the impeachment of President Clinton. Yet even children who study this “science of reading” rarely recall the painstaking synthesis of sign and sound that first alchemized tree pulp and petroleum ink into Desmond Cole of “Ghost Patrol” and Matilda Wormwood, Roald Dahl’s 5-year-old protagonist from the book of the same name. At some point, for most of us, it just happened.“People really can’t imagine what it is to exist without being able to read, ” said James’ partner, Anne Halkias, 38. “I don’t think people understand how much extra work you have to do. ”Because we can’t remember it, illiteracy can seem total, akin to the formless darkness many sighted people imagine blind people see. But for adults like James, the reality is both brighter and blurrier than that.“There was some foundational stuff there, ” Halkias said. “He knew his alphabet. He knew certain words. ”But he lacked the skill to tap out a text message or untangle the instructions in a video game. All data is taken from the source: http://latimes.com Article Link: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-12-28/learning-to-read-one-tiktok-at-a-time #people #newsuk #newsworldtoday #bbcnewsworld #usanewstoday #newsworldnow #

“What’s up, I can’t read,” is how Oliver James starts most of his TikTok videos. And that reveal has been life-changing for the 34-year-old from Southern California. Last year, he discovered the “Booktok” community, and it’s helping him connect and learn to read, despite his rough upbringing. “I can't read. I come from the other side of tracks,” he told Inside Edition Digital’s Andrea Swindall. “I just want to learn how to read, man. That's it.”

Oliver James is on a mission to learn to read. The 34-year-old may be functionally illiterate, but he's determined to change that -- with the help of hundreds of thousands of fans on TikTok. READ MORE: https://abc7.la/3YjQhpM

‘You can't put a price on giving to people’ — 35-year-old Oliver James went from being illiterate to reading nearly 100 books a year, and he documented it all online to help inspire others. Presented by @verizon. » Subscribe to @NowThisOriginals Connect with NowThis » Subscribe to NowThis News: http://go.nowth.is/News_Subscribe » Like us on Facebook: http://go.nowth.is/News_Facebook » Tweet us on Twitter: http://go.nowth.is/News_Twitter » Follow us on Instagram: http://go.nowth.is/News_Instagram » Find us on Snapchat Discover: http://go.nowth.is/News_Snapchat NowThis Originals is NowThis' new destination for midform, premium series. http://www.youtube.com/@nowthisoriginals

Oliver James is a 34-year-old personal trainer who is sharing his inspiring journey of learning how to read on TikTok. James has challenged himself to read 100 books in a year, working out both body and mind at the same time. Saturday TODAY’s Joe Fryer reports on the motivational story. » Subscribe to TODAY: http://on.today.com/SubscribeToTODAY » Watch the latest from TODAY: http://bit.ly/LatestTODAY About: TODAY brings you the latest headlines and expert tips on money, health and parenting. We wake up every morning to give you and your family all you need to start your day. If it matters to you, it matters to us. We are in the people business. Subscribe to our channel for exclusive TODAY archival footage & our original web series. Connect with TODAY Online! Visit TODAY's Website: http://on.today.com/ReadTODAY Find TODAY on Facebook: http://on.today.com/LikeTODAY Follow TODAY on Twitter: http://on.today.com/FollowTODAY Follow TODAY on Instagram: http://on.today.com/InstaTODAY » Stream TODAY All Day: https://www.today.com/allday About: TODAY All Day is a 24/7 streaming channel bringing you the top stories in news and pop culture, celebrity interviews, cooking, and more. All in one place. #PersonalTrainer #TikTok #Reading

After struggling to read for 34 years, Oliver shares his quest to learn on social media—and has just completed his 9th book.

Jennifer Hudson meets Oliver James, a 34-year-old man who recently went viral on his mission to learn to read. Oliver tells JHud about his background, determination, and why he’s sharing his journey with hundreds of thousands of fans on TikTok. Read more: https://jenniferhudsonshow.com/2023/03/07/tiktok-star-oliver-james-interview/ SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to “The Jennifer Hudson Show” newsletter: https://jenniferhudsonshow.com/pages/newsletter/ Subscribe to “The Jennifer Hudson Show” channel: youtube.com/c/JenniferHudsonShow When the show's on in your area: https://jenniferhudsonshow.com/when-its-on/ For tickets to the show, visit https://jenniferhudsonshow.com/tickets/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferhud... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferHuds... Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHudShow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferhudso… #jenniferhudson #jenniferhudsonshow

In this February 16, 2023, edition of LA County Library’s Heart & Hand Book Talk Series, watch Oliver James, one of the brightest new stars on TikTok’s BookTok platform. His story makes for one of the most uplifting in the whole literary world: he taught himself to read at the age of 34 by leveraging TikTok. Oliver is also a fitness aficionado and personal trainer who got started on his reading journey while working out, and now he’s set a “modest” goal of reading 100 books this year. We promise you will come away from this talk inspired! The Heart and Hands Book Talk Series hopes to inspire people to open their hearts and minds by challenging existing perceptions about systemic racism and injustice against people of color. Developed as part of LA County Library’s Equity Initiative, these talks feature discussions on thought-provoking literature as well as conversations with noted authors and speakers. The Heart and Hands Book Talk Series is moderated by Skye Patrick, LA County Library Director. For weekly LA County Library virtual programs and interactive events: https://lacountylibrary.org/virtual-programming/ Subscribe to LA County Library for DIY Library programs, book talks, storytime, and more! https://youtube.com/LACountyLibrary Connect with LA County Library: Twitter https://twitter.com/lacountylibrary Facebook https://facebook.com/LACountyLibrary Instagram https://instagram.com/lacountylibrary About LA County Library: Founded in 1912, LA County Library is one of the largest and most innovative library systems in the US. It offers free public resources including books, music, multimedia materials, computer and internet access, and educational and recreational services. LA County Library is dedicated to reducing barriers and increasing access to and equity of public services for all. To learn more, visit https://lacountylibrary.org

Slipped through the cracks of special education, graduated high school with a second grade reading level, faced trauma, became incarcerated, started a personal trainer business in his native Pennsylvania, saw the pandemic bring his business to a halt, then took steps to change his life. How? By seeking treatment for his OCD diagnosis, changing his diet, re-committing to healthy nutrition, moving to California and doing something remarkable. Oliver decided to first face the fact that he could not read. He then decided to teach himself to read. He went even further and decided to document it on social media, his self guided journey to literacy. His story has become a sensation covered by Good morning America, The Los Angeles Times, and Inside Edition. He hopes to inspire others as a motivational & inspirational speaker. He shares his story, as well as his vision, with just Two Dads. Speaking Event: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/7945678 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oliverspeaks1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliverspeaks1/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@oliverspeaks1397 — eMail:wearejusttwodads@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just_two_dads/ Podcast: https://anchor.fm/justtwodads LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justtwodads Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearejusttwodads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GN4T9fkHEVR5R_16w_7bw Mens’ Group Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FLQKP65 Sponsored by Billy Footwear: https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=just-two-dads #OliverJames #SelfLove #BookTok #Perseverance