You have probably heard this a million times before from your professors, your teachers, your siblings, or your peers. You probably wonder why many are encouraging more people to read fiction even though there is an abundance of new scientific discoveries to read about that are realistic and contemporary. Fiction, however, does not have the sole purpose of providing entertainment. Sure, that is extremely important and there are millions upon millions of works of literature out there that are extremely entertaining and can really transport your mind into the world in the book, but great spooks spark many interpretations.
The classics of 'Frankenstein', 'A Tale of Two Cities', and 'The Great Gatsby' have meanings the author meant to convey to showcase themes in society during the time the books were written. As time goes on, society changes and our thoughts change with them. The more we read these classics in the modern era, the more we are able to pull apart new themes and see new details that are key to the characters themselves in the novel and to the society described in said novel. This may not be the case for all works of fiction because many are indeed boring, confusing, and not as enticing as it could be. However, every time we read a work of fiction, we learn.
When we learn, we grow in understanding ourselves and the world around us. It is not necessary for us to constantly read non-fiction or even dedicate ourselves to only reading scientific papers to gain knowledge about the world we live in. There are an array of self-improvement benefits that come with reading fiction. For example, poetry and books have been used time and time again for centuries as a form of therapy.
Fiction is a way to exercise one's brain and understand society and others' perception of society in different scenarios. Through reading itself many are able to empathize better by putting themselves in the shoes of the characters who are struggling and simultaneously imagining the storyline if they themselves were a part of it. Reading is a great way to temporarily escape the world around you and give your mind a rest from all the constant craziness in life. Many people, after an excruciatingly long day, read before bed to relax them, ease their mind and help them sleep. Reading, regardless of fiction, is an easy way to continue to build your vocabulary. There are thousands of words in the English language and while we think we may know a lot, there are more we do not know and unless you plan on reading the dictionary to improve your vocabulary, reading books helps.
Fiction is just one genre in the grand scheme of things. It is different from non-fiction because it is not real, even though some stories may be slightly based on real-life situations. Fiction allows your mind to wander for a short period of time and engage with a different situation and a different reality. Similar to watching television shows or movies where your mind wanders to the plot and how society is portrayed and how the characters are portrayed, whilst reading fiction your mind is not only able to rest from what is really happening, but it is also able to increase your curiosity and creativeness.
There are thousands of fantastic works of fiction at Bookstores, on Kindle, anywhere you can get books. The classics, the newer books, the oldies but goodies. Fiction is one of those genres you can never go wrong. While may people say that as they start aging they gradually grow out of reading fiction, it is not a genre you grow out of. Fiction can transport anyone's mind, regardless of age, and that is why it is important.
