Living at the edge of town, however, led to Eiseley's early interest in the natural world, to which he turned when being at home was too difficult. There, he would play in the caves and creek banks nearby. Fortunately, there were others who opened the door to a happier life. His half-brother, Leo, for instance, gave him a copy of "Robinson Crusoe", with which he taught himself to read. Thereafter, he managed to find ways to get to the public library and became a voracious reader.