"Education is the key to success" is a famous quote that everyone is familiar with. Nowadays if you are not educated you will have a hard time trying to succeed and may even give up too early. Richard Rodriguez's "The Achievement of Desire", and Malcolm X's "Learning to Read" are both similar and different in how and why they educated themselves. Malcolm X taught himself because he wanted to be a well educated African American. …showed first 75 words of 812 total…

…showed last 75 words of 812 total…that he never knew in his books. From his books he became a famous spokesman for the African American people that were suppressed. Rodriguez love of reading soon grew into his whole life and dedication. He traveled to Europe, attended ivy league schools, and is now the associate editor with the Pacific News Service in San Francisco. Malcolm X was once asked who is alma mater was by an English writer, and he replied, "Books".