#199: Reading fiction books
I am never without a book to read.
Specifically, a fiction book to read.
As a child I loved to read fiction. Most memorably for me; Harry Potter, The Anthony Horowtiz series and Roald Dahl’s books.
Then as I went to college, University and entered the Startup world, I lost my love for reading stories.
At University the only two books I read were The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. At the time, they spoke to my ambitious desire and my naive belief that I could conquer the world alone. Those books were intoxicating at the time.
When I entered the startup world for the first time, I felt like I didn’t have time for fiction books. “But, I’m not learning anything, what’s the purpose?”
I gorged non-fiction and self-development books. Lean Startup by Eric Reiss, Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown. Zero to One by Peter Thiel, Habits of Highly Influential People by Dale Carnegie. Anything a “Top CEO must read”
I gobbled these books up in my quest to get ahead, learn and grow. The irony is, I look back and don’t think the core messages in any of those books really landed with me at all. I learned about vulnerability in my head, I learned to smile in my head, yet the books didn’t change me, they didn’t awaken my heart or my soul. In a way, reading these books was just more work.
I’d work incredibly hard in the day trying to be better and be more productive. Then I’d lie in bed at night reading text books to learn more.
At 25, when I began Sanctus I spent time reflecting on what I’d done as a child that I’d lost contact with as a young adult. Reading fiction was one of the things I returned to.
For the last 5 years I’ve almost exclusively read fiction books and I’ve learned a lot, developed empathy, changed my perspectives and relaxed a lot more than years of reading non-fiction, self development or learning books.
I read fiction to heal, to relax and to escape to another world.
I read fiction to expand my vocabulary and creative potential.
I read fiction to enter other worlds and meet new people.
Fiction books are mind expanding in an incredible way, as well as immensely enjoyable.
What I love most about reading fiction books is the relationship between you and the book. In this form of media you have to use your imagination to create the characters. If I watch a film, it’s done for me, I can sit and enjoy it immensely, yet there’s less imagination and less work needed from me. With fiction, we’re in it together and I create the world in my head.
When I read I notice how certain characters resonate and evoke emotion in me. For example, I’m currently reading The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver. The wolf cub in the first book ‘Wolf Brother’ resonates with me, he’s reminding me of my intuition and my inner guide. I’m finding that supportive.
I recently read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series. The characters in the book all touched on different parts of me. Gandalf the wise part of me, who knows where to go. Frodo the part that feels duty bound to keep on keeping on. Sam the loving, supportive part that just wants me to eat well and rest. Gollum the hurt, lonely, small part of me that might feel hard done by and bitter. Then my favourite of all, Bilbo the silly playful Hobbit who started off the whole adventure.
There are countless other books I’ve read where the characters evoke parts of who I am and help raise up parts of my sub-conscious into my awareness. Take Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. The main protagonist, the Butler spoke to me as this archetypal English gentleman who just never ever shared how he felt, it resonated so much. I knew I had some of the Butler in me. That book was part of a change journey for me.
It’s not just about resonating on a personal level either.
Books take me to new places and help me meet new people.
I realised a few years ago that I was only reading books written by white men and often with white male lead characters and made an effort to diversify my reading.
As a result I’ve travelled to India, Africa, the mid-west of America and lived through the Trujilo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.
I’ve not just learned about India in the 1970s and the complexities of social class there. I literally felt like I lived there whilst reading A Fine Balance by Rohan Mistry.
Reading Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver I did a stint in the Congo and I truly felt the appalling destruction of colonialism and white missionary saviours.
When I read Zami, the memoir of Aurdre Lorde I met a Black, Female, Lesbian, Poet for the first time in my life and got to know her very well.
Reading fiction expands my world and I believe both builds my empathy and perspective, and I really believe makes me a better person.
Finally, reading Stephen King’s memoir on writing he told me to my face, literally, that if I want to become a great writer, I must become a great reader. Of course! Reading more has positively impacted my writing, both from a style, substance and vocabulary perspective.
I LOVE books and I LOVE reading. I’m passionate about the importance of both for our world and I worry about a world where the thought of reading fiction books conjures the response; “what’s the point?” Or “I don’t have time” I’ve been there.
I appreciate reading fiction isn’t for everyone, yet could it be for more people and would it have a positive impact? Probably.
Bookworms unite!
I’m always looking for great recommendations and would love to hear stories of how any type of book might have impacted you in your life.
Writing
I've co-designed an Msc Entrepreneurship at Staffs Uni with access to full bursaries. I'm pretty proud of this.
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