Should You Read Fiction?

Book reading has been proven time and again to be one of the best ways to increase your cognitive function and mental health, no matter your age.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have proven that all facets of your mental abilities are enriched by regular, substantive reading. They observed dramatic improvements in areas such as vocabulary, communication, problem-solving, and information processing. The findings also showed that the earlier in life we begin reading books and the more we continue reading, the more we grow mentally.

Additional studies have also concluded that reading alleviates depression, reduces stress, prevents the risk for dementia later in life, and can even help you live longer.

When you think of enriching reading, it is typically educational, historical, self-help or other non-fiction books that come to mind. Such books have obvious benefits from the information and instruction that can be directly learned. However, fiction books—while usually seen as reading for pleasure—also offer many great life lessons and opportunities for learning.

Let’s take a closer look at a few benefits to reap from reading literary fiction and why something viewed as a leisurely activity can be a worthwhile investment of your time.

Personal Connection

Another benefit of reading fiction you may not have considered: it helps you learn about yourself. This goes way beyond finding self-help books, although they have some value.

Where non-fiction books instruct you, fictional stories go further by showing you. They teach by example. As one award-winning Canadian novelist summarized, “History tells us what people do; historical fiction helps us imagine how they felt.” Fiction can help bring historical events to life and let you experience what it would have been like to be a part of it—and sometimes even feel it.

There is a scientific reason for this.

Research shows “some of the neural mechanisms the brain uses to make sense of narratives in stories do share similarities with those used in real-life situations,” BBC reported. “If we read the word ‘kick,’ for example, areas of the brain related to physically kicking are activated. If we read that a character pulled a light cord, activity increases in the region of the brain associated with grasping.”

For this reason, fiction books have been described as “the mind’s flight simulator.” Simulators allow pilots to learn how to fly without the danger of leaving the ground. In the same way, people who read fiction practice social skills in the absence of others. Our minds react to what we are reading—literally.

Fictitious stories can also create an environment that places you in new situations and confronts you with conflicts that allow you an opportunity to reflect on how you would feel or react. It engages you emotionally, which in turn deepens the impact in your learning. While some movies can do the same, the difference with reading is that you are actively building the picture in your mind, using intellect and imagination to understand the story.

When you are reading, you can pause to think through the character’s feelings and actions. Why did they say what they did? Were they acting hastily out of emotion, creating unnecessary difficulties for themselves? You can relate to their mistakes and reasonings and learn from them. You can reflect on the outcome of the events and analyze why it was wrong, and what would have been a better way to act.

Not only will this build better critical thinking skills, but you could also prevent yourself from making similar mistakes in your own life. Or you can have the courage to do what is right, even when it is hard, because of inspiration you may have gained from a character’s experiences. Some also offer real life lessons that may help you in overcoming similar challenges you may be facing.

Develop Empathy

These imaginative stories may not always directly apply to you. But placing yourself in the mind and experience of the story’s characters can enhance your ability to understand others and sympathize to events they have endured in their life because you experienced them through reading.

According to studies published in the PLOS and the Journal of Research in Personality, people who read literary fiction show higher levels of empathy and emotional intelligence. It improves a reader’s capacity to understand what others are thinking and feeling. As a result, fiction readers develop better social and problem-solving skills.

Another study by the University of Buffalo discovered that readers were drawn in by the gripping circumstances in a storyline and became deeply connected to a story’s characters. This same emotional response transferred to their lives through a greater willingness to help others in times of need.

Good fiction helps you understand other people’s viewpoints, enabling you to look at your life from a different perspective. These can be so powerful that they give you the ability to change your outlook and how you see yourself and the world around you.

Viewing life through another’s experiences is useful and potent in understanding and relating to others. Reading fiction will foster this ability and can also enrich your Bible study when you read about the lives of those throughout the scriptures, as you can better place yourself in their shoes while you consider what they went through.

Deep Impact

Fictional storytelling can be a powerful tool. Some of the best stories contain wisdom for living that is true and applicable to each individual. Consider an account from the well-known classic To Kill a Mockingbird. When the character in the story was trying to teach his son a lesson on the subject of courage, he explained, “Real courage is when you know you’re licked [meaning to be comprehensively defeated] before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”

He was speaking off of the death of a woman who had successfully overcome a morphine addiction before she died. The point illustrates how somebody who knew there may be no hope for success had tremendous courage to move forward anyways to do what was right and stick with it.

It may be surprising that the Bible can be said to use fictional storytelling. Jesus Christ used stories or parables to teach people about God and His Plan for all mankind. Parables are stories that reveal a spiritual truth.

One of the most famous biblical examples of fiction is that of Nathan when he confronted King David about his adultery with Bathsheba. In II Samuel 12:1-7, Nathan compared David with a rich man who stole a poor man’s beloved lamb. David could see the injustice in the story when he could not see it in his own actions.

Sometimes we cannot see what is right in front of us. Nathan used a story to help David change the way he looked at his own life. He found spiritual truth through a fable. Though Nathan’s story was intended to bring the king to repentance from dire sinful behaviors, we can glean a crucial principle from it: Fiction helps us develop a capacity to feel compassion for others.

Different Types of Fiction

There are a vast number of fiction books available online and in hard copy. The more popular titles you may be familiar with are Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm and To Kill a Mockingbird. Fiction runs the spectrum from being educational to entertaining, from thought provoking to mind expanding.

Works of fiction come in various types. Some popular genres include:

• Historical fiction takes place in the past and may borrow true characteristics of the time period in which it is set.
• Science fiction explores how technology and scientific theories impact the lives of characters.
• Humorous fiction is usually full of fun and excitement and meant to entertain.
• Classic fiction is accepted as the most important books of a particular time-period or place and widely taught in schools.

As with any literary choice, we must carefully select what we read. You may be asking, what are my choices in selecting a fiction book as a teen seeking to live God’s way of life?

Use Judgment

There are many suitable classic fiction books available with timeless messages and wisdom for living. But as with most things in life, not all fiction is valuable. Shallow plots, poor writing and petty drama have no value. Some have sexual content, profanity and scenarios that are not suitable for Christians to read.

Similarly, not all nonfiction books are valuable either. Discernment and caution are needed in any literary selection. There are even many that contain enjoyable stories, memorable characters and useful knowledge, but can lead you down a wrong path by negatively affecting your thoughts, feelings and actions. If a title that seems promising turns out to be focused on sinful topics, such as explicit language or content, it is always best to put the book down.

Does this mean that every fiction book you consider must have a Christian message? Of course, if we only picked books that were completely Christian-centered, our selection to choose from would be virtually non-existent.

Proverbs 23:7 provides a guideline to use when selecting topics: “For as [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he…” In other words, whatever information we allow into our minds will eventually come out as words or actions and define our character.

This was confirmed by brain research conducted by Emory University researchers and published in an article in The Atlantic titled “Study: Reading a Novel Changes Your Brain.” According to the media outlet, when you read about a particular activity, your brain actually experiences how it would feel if it were actually doing that activity.

“Scientists have proven in the past that reading stimulates many different parts of the brain,” the article stated. “In a 2006 study, for example, research subjects read the words ‘perfume’ and ‘coffee,’ and the part of their brains devoted to the sense of smell lit up. While these studies have focused on brain activity while a person is reading, a new study suggests that reading doesn’t just make a fleeting impression. It may make long-term changes to…the brain.”

Gregory Berns, the lead author of the study, said in the article: “We already knew that good stories can put you in someone else’s shoes in a figurative sense. Now we’re seeing that something may also be happening biologically.”

In short, science confirms what God has always known: You are what you read!

If we fill ourselves with good and wholesome information, it will eventually flow out as kind words, intelligent thoughts, friendly actions or productive skills. If we read the wrong types of books with characters that have wrong attitudes, contain cynicism, violence and demon-inspired subjects, eventually those same thoughts will flow and become our actions.

That is why it is so important to choose books carefully!

Some helpful questions to ask yourself:

• Will this be helpful and edify me?
• Will anything positive come from reading this book?
• Will reading this compromise my beliefs or tempt me to go against my convictions?

These questions should be used for any book you want to read. You can also search review websites such as commonsensemedia.org that will detail any inappropriate content of a book or its message before you start into it.

Let’s exercise judgment with these examples of classic fiction:

To Kill a Mockingbird explores social prejudice and its harmful effects on innocent victims who witness and suffer the realities of a harsh world. This is based on history and a subject to which Christians can relate.

The Grapes of Wrath, an epic of the Great Depression, chronicles the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of an Oklahoma farm family who are driven from their homestead and forced to travel west to the promised land of California. Similar to the previous title, this topic allows readers to peer into the lives of those who lived through times different from ours.

Call of the Wild tells the story of the struggle for survival. Note that this book has an evolutionist worldview that is contrary to the Bible. Yet, even though we do not agree with its premise, it can help us better understand the thinking of those who do not know God’s truth.

Make It Part of Your Life

As the popular children’s books author Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” There are many lessons you can glean and new places you can venture to through the books you read. As you learn, you will get further in life as you deepen your communication skills through a broader vocabulary and understanding of those around you.

Consider the many benefits that come from reading and determine to incorporate them into your life. Make reading even more enjoyable by creating a reading space for yourself. This will make it a special activity if you have your own “book nook,” a place that is quiet and away from distractions, where you can snuggle in with a good story.

If cost is an obstacle, there are many websites that offer free books such as Google Bookstore, Free eBooks, Amazon free Kindle books, Open Library and many others. Once you begin looking at the wide selection available, make your wish list and set goals to read a certain number monthly. As you begin this routine, you will find yourself reading more often and finding enjoyment by absorbing yourself in a book that moves your imagination to new heights!

Also, as you make choices on which fiction books you would like to read, keep in mind the vast amount of Church literature. Include it as part of your reading material.

Be sure to incorporate fiction in your list of books to read. As with all things, it is important to maintain balance in your reading diet. Too much of any one thing is not good.

Doing so, you will become more well-rounded and balanced, enhancing your insight of yourself and others.

Strive to read each day, reap the benefits, and enjoy the knowledge you gain from each book!