> in the right frame of mind and, importantly, _interested in it_

Very much so! I'm not saying the way school approaches books is good, I'd wish there would have been be a lot more time dedicated to reading the darn things. :)

My point is that, if you find reading enjoyable and do it as sort of a hobby instead of a chore (I did, and a bunch of my friends did too, so this wasn't just a me thing), you can get a lot out of the books even at that age.

Of course you understand them more later, but it also goes both ways, you also understand life situations a bit better because you've seen them before in books.