32-Year-Old Personal Trainer Learns to Read with TikTok's Help

Oliver James overcomes illiteracy with the support of the BookTok community, chronicling his journey in a new memoir

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Oliver James, a 32-year-old personal trainer, was functionally illiterate for most of his life until he bravely admitted his struggle on TikTok. The BookTok community rallied around him, providing nightly tutoring sessions that helped James learn to read. He set a goal of finishing 100 books a year, starting with children's classics, and has now published a memoir about his experience called "Unread."

Why it matters

James' story sheds light on the widespread issue of adult illiteracy in the United States, with an estimated 21% of adults reading below a 6th grade level. By openly sharing his journey, James hopes to inspire others struggling with literacy challenges and advocate for better support systems to help adults learn to read.

The details

Growing up, James struggled with ADHD, OCD, and PTSD, which made learning to read extremely difficult. He was often treated as a problem child in school and resorted to fighting and causing disruptions to avoid having to admit he couldn't read. In his 20s, James went to prison for gun trafficking, where he began his fitness journey that eventually led him to become a personal trainer. It wasn't until his 30s that James decided to openly address his illiteracy on TikTok, where the BookTok community embraced him and provided the support he needed to start reading children's books and work his way up to adult fiction and nonfiction.

  • Five years ago, Oliver James couldn't read.
  • In 2026, James published his memoir "Unread" about his journey to literacy.

The players

Oliver James

A 32-year-old personal trainer who was functionally illiterate for most of his life until he sought help from the TikTok community to learn to read.

Anne

James' partner who acted as an everyday translator and encouraged him to seek help for his illiteracy.

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What they’re saying

“Something that could be so simple as just filling out doctor's forms, paperwork for school, job applications ... Those things become near to almost impossible.”

— Oliver James (USA TODAY)

“The same messages that they put in children's books, they're putting in the adult books, they're just a little bit more simple. It was able to give me the basic knowledge of emotional intelligence, the basic knowledge of empathy and the basic knowledge of how important it is for you to learn to read, how healthy it is.”

— Oliver James (USA TODAY)

What’s next

James plans to continue his reading journey by tackling textbooks and hopes to one day attend college in person to 'redo that experience.' He also wants to teach others to read and dreams of becoming a professor at Harvard.

The takeaway

Oliver James' story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of literacy and the importance of creating supportive communities for adults struggling with reading challenges. His journey from functional illiteracy to published author serves as an inspiration for others facing similar obstacles.