An example of the influence of television on the reading interests of teenagers may be seen in the popularity of the book "Eric," the true story of a boy's four-and-a-half-year battle with leukemia, which began just two days before he entered college. Although the television adaptation was inaccurate in many details concerning Eric's life, teenagers were moved to learn more by reading about this teenager who struggled not only for life but for adolescent freedom, with style, humor, and class. Thus, they bought the paperback edition of the book in great quantity, read it, and wrote the author many letters describing their responses to the book. Television, by stirring imaginations and emotions and by awakening curiosity, can pull reluctant readers out of apathy and can become a stimulus to more and better reading. (JM)