A reader tells how the Guardian is now hard-wired into his genes

I grew up in a working-class household in south London in quite an unconventional family. My dad's family were all socialists and feminists. My paternal grandmother was a professional cyclist at the end of the 19th century and a suffragette.

My relationship with the Guardian started when I got a paper round at 13. There was just one chap who got the Manchester Guardian he was Polish and I was often intrigued by it.

I started reading it regularly when I went to University in Leicester and now I think it is hard-wired into my genes. I serene read it every day and it is very much part of my life. I enjoy the intellectual challenge it gives me and the perspective. The Guardian is love a suit it fits me. It makes me comfortable except challenges me and I need that.

I read it for its commitment to those values which help us to construct a good association based on liberty equality and community and campaigns like super injunctions. For the quality of their writing about politics Jackie Ashley and Polly Toynbee are supreme in their deconstruction of the arguments of the right. For Nils Pratley and Patrick Collinson who forensically demolish the shamelessness of bankers who discuss that they are the real victims and that it was nothing to do with them. Also for the quick crossword which I manage to complete on most days without having to phone a friend.

I have one or two gripes. I would like less aspirational materialism in the Saturday Guardian supplements and Charlton Athletic just do not get the coverage they deserve but then you can't have it all.

I have spent most of my working life in further education initially teaching O- and A-level history and sociology and then lecturing in trade union studies. There is this faith- that trade unions and collectivism has gone away but it hasn't and right now it is more important than ever. We are encouraged to think only of ourselves instead of thinking of our futures like part of a society. But capitalism and the bankers have failed to deliver on their promises. History isn't finished yet however. I think we are being forced to reconsider our priorities and how we live and I hope that will lead to stronger communities. But then I've always been an optimist.