Chris and reading

According to Bob, Chris taught himself to read by turning on the closed captions on television and following along with the words.

Anyone who wants to be a good writer must be well-read. It's one of the most natural ways to become acquainted with good style, the elements of a plot, and correct spelling. Chris's ego is so inflated that he thinks he can produce something brilliant with no effort whatsoever. While in school, the only books Chris read voluntarily are paperback Goosebumps and Fear Street novels by R.L. Stine which are notable only for their sheer mediocrity. Chris read these books, which were written for elementary schoolers, well into high school.

Before Stine, Chris enjoyed reading Berenstain Bears, ironically claiming that The Bad Habit was his favourite book as a child. Given that the books are simplistic morality tales about talking animals in which problems come out of thin air and are easily resolved by the final pages, it's not hard to see how they appealed to Chris (let alone possibly influenced his childlike worldview and literary style).

In terms of the readings he was assigned at Manchester High School, Chris retained only a superficial understanding of them. During the Father Call, Chris said that he read To Kill a Mockingbird a mere month prior, which in all likelihood he only mentioned because it was assigned in high school. This was almost instantly proven false when he confused it with Of Mice and Men, another high school assignment. The essay he wrote about a selection from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales earned only a 69%.

Books

The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories periodically written by Geoffrey Chaucer till his death in 1400, and compiled numerous times over the years.

Chris read parts of the book during high school, and did an English assignment on the story "The Nun's Priest's Tale".

“

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales gives us a great picture of life in the Middle ages. In the "Nun's Priest's Tale," Chanticleer had a dream that showed what was going to happen. And that the Rooster's and the Fox's pride got each other into trouble. And, the rooster and the fox learned that from the mistakes they have made. Well, that's it for the essay.

”

Chris's essay received a 69% score from his teacher.

Dating for Dummies

“

I only had read the tips that I felt I needed; I did not read the entire book.

”

Chris's self-autographed copy of the book

Dating for Dummies by Joy Browne was published in 2006, with a third edition published in 2011. It is part of the popular "For Dummies" line of reference books.

In September 2024, Chris offered his copy of the book for sale on Cwclight for $100. In the listing, he stated that he had bought the book a couple decades prior, and that he only read through some of its tips.

Develop Your Psychic Skills

Develop Your Psychic Skills by Enid Hoffman was published in 1981 (and republished in 1997).

According to an excerpt from the back cover of the book, it "gives you a broad overview of the whole field of psychic experiences. The exercises and practices given in this book are enjoyable and easy to do. Use them to strengthen and focus your own natural abilities and turn them into precise, coordinated skills. You'll be amazed at the changes that begin to happen in your life as you activate the right hemisphere of your brain; the intuitive, creative, psychic half which has been so seldom used for so long."

When Chris read the Psychokinesis chapter, which mentioned magician Uri Geller by name, he decided to try emailing Geller in September 2017 to ask for help with developing his psychic skills (although Geller replied that it was a waste of time).

Goosebumps

Main article: R.L. Stine

Goosebumps is a long-running children's horror novel series made by R.L. Stine and first published in 1992.

Goosebumps is Chris's favorite book series, and he continued to read the books up to high school. Chris has also said that The Haunted Mask is his favorite book of all time.

How to Talk to Girls

Main article: How to Talk to Girls

How to Talk to Girls by Alec Greven was published in 2008, when Alec was nine years old. It is a children's guide on how to get a boyfriend-free girl.

Chris purchased the book in early 2009 under the guidance of his pastoral counselor and the John Tesh Radio Show, and in Chris's words is a "great book". In Sonichu #9, several concepts from the book are used in the dating education class.

Numerology: the Key to Your Inner Self

Numerology: the Key to Your Inner Self by Hans Decoz and Tom Monte was published in 1993. It is a book on the mystical belief of numerology, an attempt to use numbers and math to interpret meaning in life.

Chris discussed the book with The Place during April 2021, where he chatted about using numerology to interpret his birth name of "Christopher Weston Chandler".

The Butter Battle Book

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss was published in 1984. It is a children's book themed on anti-war messages. Its plot is a metaphor for mutually assured destruction through nuclear weapons.

During the Gruppenfuhrer Fegelein chat from January 2018, Chris brought up the book's plot when arguing against the usage of nuclear weapons. Fegelein and Blanc then mocked Chris over the age range of the book, as Chris was 35 at the time.

The Giver

The Giver mentioned in Sonichu 13

The Giver by Lois Lowry was published in 1993. It is a young adult science-fiction novel about a dystopian setting which at first glance appears a utopia.

Chris read the book while in high school. In a August 2009 call with Kacey, Chris mentioned he still has the book in his collection, which also includes Goosebumps and To Kill a Mockingbird, and rambled about the book's plot to her. In February 2010 (when Chris was 28), he recommended the book to The Wallflower in an email to her and quoted the book's summary. In Sonichu 13, written 2017-2018, when comic Chris is role-playing a date with Blanc, the conversation turns to books and he talks about The Giver to her.

The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick was published in 1962. It is an alternative history novel based on the idea of the Axis powers winning World War II.

During the Idea Guys saga, Joshua Wise convinced Chris to read the novel. By 10 January 2018, Chris reported that he was on chapter 11. The book is also mentioned in Sonichu 13.

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability

Main article: Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability by Miriam Kaufman, Cory Silverberg, and Fran Odette was published in September 2020.

Chris purchased a copy from Amazon for use during his incestuous Affair with Mother. He described the book as "a valuable and informative book to add additional guidance".

Fanfics

A Girl Who Brought Down the World

Main article: A Girl Who Brought Down the World

My Friend Sonichu

Main article: Sonichu reads and critiques a Fanfic by The Crimson Libertarian

SNT Vs Sonichu

Main article: SNT Vs Sonichu

Use of highlighters

“	Also, so y’all know, I have a rainbow of highlighters, each specified within the false-true range, and then some. Pay Attention.	”
Chris, June 2021

Chris's chart explaining his highlight notation

A highlighter is a writing tool for specially noting text. Chris has a system for highlighting, demonstrated on at least three occasions.

When reading Warhol / Chris Chan, Chris highlighted selected portions of the text in various colors. He explained his methods in a Twitter post:

• Pink - That's Wrong ~ See Facts of from me

• Orange - Half-Right / Half Wrong, See my Facts

• Yellow - Generally Interesting, or made me smile

• Green - Additional Facts for Context, I have (More To It Than The Stated)

• Blue - Totally Agree, and on Point

• Purple - Highly Resonant with me

• 

  Highlighted text from Warhol / Chris Chan

• 

  From Warhol / Chris Chan

• 

  From a social media image

• 

  From a message sent by a "close friend"