Some people think reading fiction is all about escapism and is therefore a waste of time. As a lover of fiction, I wholeheartedly disagree with this because it simply isn’t true. Reading fiction — good fiction — is by no means a waste of time. I truly believe reading fiction is one of the best ways to learn how to be a better and smarter human.
It goes without saying that not every fiction book is good to read. There are many that are downright trash. I’ve read my fair share and I’m sure you have too. But the same is true for some nonfiction books. I’ve read my fair share of these, too.
Naturally, we absorb things differently from reading fiction than from nonfiction. But there are many life lessons that we can learn simply from reading fiction alone. I often hear people talking about how fictional books are about things that are not real and that we should focus on “true stories.” I disagree with this too. Just because a story is fictional, that doesn’t make the emotions, struggles and desires of the people in those stories any less real or true.
“Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” – Albert Camus
Fiction is more powerful and profound than nonfiction
Human culture is based on stories and metaphors. And this is how we process and interact with reality. One of the reasons I love fiction is because of its magical and uncanny ability to embed messages when my analytical brain is turned off.
When I finished Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (the Stormlight Archives series), the book hangover was so bad, I couldn’t read anything (fiction or nonfiction) for at least a month. It was that good IMO. Since it was during the summer, I filled that evening reading time by perusing cookbooks and picking out new recipes to try. Yes, I count this as reading.
But the reason I couldn’t dig into a new book is because I was constantly receiving downloads related to RoW. I listened to the audiobook in the evenings while crocheting for an hour or so, then I would go to bed (or fall asleep with my crochet hook in my hand). Crocheting puts me in a semi-meditative state, so my analytical brain was definitely turned off.
Weeks later, after I had finished the book and talked about it with anyone who would give me the time of day, something strange began happening. Whenever I did my morning or evening journaling, somehow, I would end up writing about a lesson learned or some bit of insight into myself that came directly from the story. Even when I pulled a few tarot cards to reflect on my day, somehow, without thinking, I would relate the messages back to RoW and how I could integrate everything going forward. Once my analytical brain was back on, it started using insights from the book to work out actual problems I was experiencing. It was almost like doing shadow work without actually “doing” it.
Very strange.
I only recently discovered that I was doing this when flipping through my previous journal in preparation for setting up a new one for 2023.
Fiction is sneaky like that.
Fiction teaches empathy
Reading fiction allows us to live inside the experiences of other people. Our brains can’t distinguish between what we read and what we actually experience. Don’t believe me? There’s scientific research to support this. Click here and here.
Although I can’t physically go to Hogwarts, Middle Earth, Narnia, the Shattered Plains or any other fictional world, my mind certainly can (and has been on multiple occasions). The wisdom I’ve gained from the people and events within these soul-enriching stories has deeply embedded itself in my heart and my daily life, which I have evidence of in my journals.
This is most likely the reason why people roll their eyes at me when I randomly quote characters like Gandalf or Dumbledore or Dalinar Kholin. I’ve lost count of the number of times in my life where I have literally and figuratively asked myself, what would Jasnah think about this? As you can see, the Stormlight Archives has had a profound effect on me, and the series isn’t even finished yet.
Putting yourself in a fictional character’s shoes will help you to understand the people you know in real life better because you’ve been exercising how to relate to people in your imagination as you read.
Sidebar: In the Stormlight Archives, particularly the first two books, Jasnah is considered to be a heretic. As someone with a 5/1 human design profile, I can relate. I’m known as the Heretic Investigator, and thus, Jasnah is my kindred spirit.
When I think about how I understand my role as citizen… the most important stuff I’ve learned I think I’ve learned from novels. — Barack Obama
Fiction teaches critical thinking skills
Reading fiction is an immersive experience. As I mentioned earlier, our brains can’t distinguish between what we read and what we actually experience — the same neurological regions are stimulated.
Novels have a way of entering our thoughts and feelings. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve experienced emotional trauma at the hands of a book. Reading the Name of the Wind for the first time is a prime example. Our brains react the same way when we read a fictional experience as they would if we were living it ourselves — it’s the way our brains work. While reading, our brains are constantly looking for alternative paths and thinking through complex problems. Clearly mine does it when I’m sleeping and comes out in my journal entries! Haha.
One issue that frustrates the hell out of me is the fact that most school systems teach what to think as opposed to how to think. Whenever I’m helping my kids, especially my high schoolers with their homework, I’m always asking them to opine on the subject matter. Most of the time, they will simply regurgitate what the text said. Getting them to really think about it and develop their own opinion is like pulling teeth.
The ability to think critically is a life skill. Whenever I am frustrated and stuck on a problem, I always have to change the way I am thinking about that problem to solve it. Reading fiction helps me to see problems differently. Characters in a story are perpetually presented with problems and the story is about them exploring and discovering solutions.
Reading novels has strengthened my critical thinking skills in more ways than I can count. Here are a few examples:
Jurassic Park offered me a new perspective on the way humans interact with biology, and both the good and harm that we can do — particularly with genetic engineering.
Sherlock Holmes taught me deductive reasoning (or as he calls it, “systematized common sense”) and the beauty of being mindful in my everyday activities. I am forever grateful because had I not learned this, I wouldn’t actively seek out the magic in the mundane.
Remember when Harry and Hermione had to figure out The Potion Riddle in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? (The book, not the movie… I was actually upset that this scene wasn’t included in the movie but anyhoo…) My mind immediately went into overdrive (I live for a good puzzle!), and the deductive reasoning I learned from Holmes helped me solve the riddle — before continuing to read to the end.
These are just two reasons why my love fiction is deeply rooted. Novels have taught me so many life lessons. I simply cannot fathom a world without good fiction to read. How would we survive? How would we stay sane?
Don’t get me wrong, I read and enjoy good nonfiction, too. I love reading books to learn about someone’s life (Stet: An Editor’s Life was charming!) or to improve my money mindset. But I firmly believe that if you want to read something that will help you better understand yourself and the world around you, there’s nothing better than walking in a fictional character’s shoes.
Reading fiction is not a waste of time. I will die on this hill.
Yes! I totally agree with you on every single point Lakeisha - and I love that Camus quote, might be borrowing that one 😉
Yes to all of this!! I used to have this discussion with my grandpa back in the day, and used all the same arguments you gave 😊