15 years ago, Mark Blumberg flunked his high school English class when he failed to read Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Now newly enamored with the notorious novel, he reaches out to his former teacher to see if she would accept a belated book report from him... in the form of a documentary film.

After several months of research, interviews, and awk- ward interactions, he presents to her the feature-length documentary, THE ACT OF READING.

Attempting nothing less than a comprehensive portrait of the reading mind, Blumberg’s quest brings him and his crew to a unique assortment of scholars, scientists, and teachers -- from a snowy New England reading marathon to a magical high school classroom in Texas. They also meet two of Melville’s living descendants -- who are then tasked to channel their famous ancestor in dramatic performances.

Yet, as the project continues, Mark finds his personal life increasingly under scrutiny. His attempt at fixing the past instead develops into an earnest search for meaning, not just in great books, but in life itself.