There was a time in the 1990s when life was simpler, yet somehow, everything seemed possible. The world was our playground, and for many of us, that playground had a particular centerpiece: the smell of hot, cheesy pizza fresh out of the oven at Pizza Hut, earned through the scholastic glory of reading books. Yes, we’re talking about Book It—a program that defined the childhoods of countless book nerds like myself, who devoured both literature and pizza with equal enthusiasm.
For me, Book It was the only time our household would go to The Hut, as I liked to call it growing up. And much to the chagrin of my 100% Italian boyfriend, The Hut was real, authentic pizza to me. I mean hey, I grew up in the Poconos, can I please get a pass? Our “Italian food” was recipes passed down by someone whose neighbor’s sister’s Grandma lived in NYC. It wasn’t good, and unfortunately, it still isn’t, but to me, Pizza Hut pizza tastes like home.
It reminds me of when I read books as if my family’s livelihood depended on them. I collected those pins like my life’s mission was to get my whole family their personal pizzas plus a medium pie for the table. For me, these moments were everything. All felt right in the world, and I felt like I was normal for a few brief moments. Like my family didn’t have to wonder where our dinner would be coming from that night. We could just be.
Fast forward a few decades, and I like many of my fellow book nerds have grown up. We’ve weathered the storms of adolescence, navigated the challenges of adulthood, and, for many, battled the demons of addiction or dependence. But just as the promise of a personal pan pizza once fueled our reading marathons, today, it’s the genre of Quit Lit that sustains us. It’s a genre that, in many ways, feels like the natural evolution of those early days spent lost in the pages of a good book—only now, the stakes are higher, and the rewards infinitely more profound.
The Power of Book It: A Gateway to Lifelong Reading
For those who grew up in the 90s, Book It was more than just a reading incentive program; it was a lifeline. A reward was waiting for every book we finished—a gleaming, golden ticket that promised a free pizza. The rules were simple: read a certain number of books, get your teacher’s approval, and voila! You were off to Pizza Hut, clutching your certificate like Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket.
But beyond the pizza, Book It was about something more. It was about the thrill of discovery, the magic of getting lost in a story, and the satisfaction of achieving something purely for the love of it. It was a program that didn’t just encourage us to read; it made reading something to aspire to, something that came with tangible, delicious rewards. For many of us, it began a lifelong love affair with books—a love that has seen us through the best and worst times.
From Book It to Quit Lit: Reading as a Lifeline
As we’ve grown, so too have our reading habits. The books that once captivated us—for me, it was the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew and watching them time and time again get out of impossible scenarios—have given way to new stories—stories of struggle, resilience, and, ultimately, recovery. Enter Quit Lit, a genre that has exploded in recent years, offering those of us on the journey to sobriety a roadmap, a companion, and, often, a lifeline.
Quit Lit is the literary equivalent of the Book It program for adults. It rewards us not with pizza but with the promise of a better, healthier life. It’s a genre that speaks directly to our experiences, offering insights, strategies, and, perhaps most importantly, hope. Whether it’s memoirs of those who have walked the path before us, self-help guides that offer practical advice, or novels that explore the complexities of addiction and recovery, Quit Lit provides a sanctuary for those of us seeking solace in stories once again.
Books like Caroline Knapp’s Drinking: A Love Story and Annie Grace’s This Naked Mind have become the new go-to reads for a generation of book nerds who have swapped out personal pan pizzas for personal growth. These stories remind us that we are not alone, that our struggles are shared, and that there is always a way forward—even if the path is winding and fraught with challenges.
The Comfort of a Good Book (and Maybe a Slice of Pizza)
Just as the promise of a free pizza once motivated us to turn page after page, the wisdom found within Quit Lit fuels our journey toward recovery. There’s a comforting familiarity in curling up with a good book, much like we did in our childhood bedrooms, knowing that we’ll find the strength to keep going within those pages.
And who knows? Maybe now and then, after finishing a particularly impactful Quit Lit book, we’ll treat ourselves to a slice of pizza—a nod to the simpler days of our youth when the rewards for reading were as tangible as they were delicious. After all, some things never change.
So here’s to the book nerds who survived on Book It pizza in the 90s and are now thriving on Quit Lit in the 2020s. May we continue to find solace, strength, and hope in the pages of a good book—whether it’s about knights in shining armor or the battle within ourselves. Because, as we learned long ago, a good book can be its kind of reward. And sometimes, that’s all we need to keep going.
Curated Book It Throwbacks
THE SOBER CURATOR LIBRARY: At The Sober Curator Library, we don’t just read books; we immerse ourselves in literary journeys, tune in on Audible, and craft insightful reviews – all while buzzing around to curate a collection that’s simply un-bee-liveable! Let your fingers go for a scroll in this new way to experience our archives, where judging a book by its cover is ok.
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
