Essays
How Reading Helped Me Embrace My Individuality
BookTok creator Richard Fisher shares how rediscovering a love for reading helped him reclaim his identity, embrace individuality, and find community through storytelling.
Richard Fisher III, known in the book community as “Richreadzzz”, is a well-known BookTok creator who gained traction in the space for his energetic, engaging, and well-articulated book reviews. His passion for the stories he reads exudes excitement that inspires his audience to discuss their own experiences with books and discover new titles they may not have encountered. Richard’s videos focus on in-depth reviews where he shares his personal experiences, opinions, and observations of books, all while not spoiling a thing! His ability to eloquently express his thoughts about books, accompanied by his electrifying spirit, has cemented his status as an influential figure in the book community. You can find him on Instagram and TikTok.
Growing up, I always shared and engaged in my hobbies with innocent, unfiltered enthusiasm. In elementary school, reading was a core part of my personality, and something I did well and often. I would beg my parents for as much money as I could get just to buy whatever caught my eye at my school book fair. During lunch, you’d find me in the cafeteria showing off my books to anyone who showed even a hint of interest in what I was pulling from my backpack.
Then came middle school, eighth grade, specifically — and things changed. Later in my young adulthood, I would come to understand that this “shift” was my first exposure to social hierarchies and the pressure to want to fit into the masses. But at the time, I remember thinking: For some odd reason, I no longer feel comfortable being open about my passion for reading. So, instead of reading at school, I started reading at home. When my English teacher told the class to take out the required reading and read silently, I’d sigh in dread like my classmates, except I was pretending.
That one book that taught me how to charm my crush with its amazing character dialogue. I kept all of it hidden. Reading didn’t seem to interest anyone around me. It wasn’t something people who were labelled “cool” did. And it didn’t feel like something many people who looked like me were doing either. So, I neglected reading — and in doing so, I neglected a major element of my individuality.
That changed in May of 2022. At the time, I had been in Los Angeles for about a year after moving away from home with my group of friends — found family. One friend in particular, an incredible writer and avid fantasy reader, suggested we buddy read a book together. The words, “Let’s do it!” burst from my lips like a bull out of a bucking chute. I surprised myself, and I was thrilled. That vital piece of me I had packed away in the attic of my being was finally going to be dusted off and explored once more.
Within a few months, my love for reading returned in full force — and suddenly I was that elementary school kid at the cafeteria table all over again, excitedly telling all my friends (readers and non-readers alike) about the books I was reading and which ones I thought they’d enjoy. That energy carried over to my family when I moved back home in 2024.
Of course, my family loves me and supports my interests, but their reactions while I was geeking out over books just weren’t cutting it. So, I created a separate TikTok account and tailored my algorithm to show me content about books only. That’s when I discovered BookTok. As a viewer, I started seeing Black creators, both men and women, passionately sharing their current reads, favorite stories, go-to authors, recommendations, and more. Their joy and enthusiasm inspired me to join in on the fun and start creating content of my own.
Throughout my reading journey, I’ve learned to never be ashamed of the people or things that make me happy. Fantasy stories have taught me that even the most powerful, magical people are scrutinized, disliked, and seen as outsiders. And yet, they still rise. They overcome opposition — not despite who they are, but because of it. That process helps them reach their full potential, recognize the power they possess, understand their impact on the world, and find community with others who share similar backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Reading has taught me that it’s not about fitting in. It’s about looking within. Exploring what makes you unique. Embracing who you are as an individual. And standing out to see those who are outstanding.
