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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 01:14 PM
Hey guys!
So at the age of 23 I've decided that reading fiction is a waste of time and I'm actually surprised I spent so many years of my life reading it. But I'm not sure if I'm ruling out a lot of great titles that may be beneficial for me in my early 20's.
Is there a benefit to reading fiction these days?
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 01:40 PM
I think it depends on the fiction. What is the underlying moral or lesson? The Count of Monte Christo is fiction but it i still a tale of how negative desires can consume and ruin a man. Lately I have been reading some historical fiction about the rise and fall of Genghis Khan or the battle of Thermopylae. I wouldn't just write of the whole of fiction as junk. Strike a balance between the two. Reading biographies about great meant throughout history can be beneficial as well.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 01:46 PM
What kind of fiction do you read? Crime, science-fiction, fantasy? You probably just read the wrong books.
There is no reason at all to trade one for the other.
I read equal amounts of fiction and non-fiction books. Both have a distinct value to them. While you can gain more real-life and applicable knowledge from non-fiction, novels can help you to expand your vocabulary and your imagination as well as to see basic structures and motifs that drive human relationships and that have not changed over time. Read Cicero, Shakespeare, Jack London, Evelyn Waugh, William Faulkner or Don DeLillo, and you will realize how similar the basic conflicts are that have plagued us ever since the beginning of our species.
Also, good novels from past times make the historical period during which they were written palpable. For instance, it's worthwhile to learn about the history of The Great War through textbooks, but if you really want to learn about how people perceived those days, you should read memoirs or novels like "All Quiet on the Western Front" (Remarque) or "A Farewell to Arms" (Hemingway).
Literature conveys insights into human nature that non-fiction cannot necessarily. Do you yourself a favor and grab a classic every once in a while. Over time you will realize that it adds something very valuable to your overall education like traveling, working, game, good conversations as well as doing sports does.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 01:49 PM
Post College.
Non-Fiction helped me make money.
Fiction was for recreation.
Now that I'm older, good fiction can help you make money because good fiction incorporates a lot of life lessons.
WIA
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01-24-2016, 01:52 PM
I can relate OP. I stopped reading fiction after my 12th grade Lit class.
But don't discount all fiction, I have a soft spot for dystopian works. Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Atlas Shrugged, Brave New World, etc.
I never understood why books like the Maze Runner and Hunger Games were popular. Teen easy reading bunk if you ask me.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 01:56 PM
My profession forces me to read non fiction extensively. My first love is fiction and it allows my mind to roam. It's like watching tv except it's written form. As Archie said, a lot of life lessons are woven into good fictional books.
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01-24-2016, 02:50 PM
It's foolish to discount fiction as though it is beneath you. I've been that guy just like I've been that guy who thought he was above banging 7s. Eventually I wised up in both cases.
I don't think a man should ever lose his taste for good fiction. Most great works of fiction are rooted in reality, contain life lessons, and an interesting look into the past. The point about human nature is also very true, especially when you read fiction and immediately connect characters to real people in your life.
I think fiction also teaches you to be more insightful in your interpretations of the world around you, which is a quality that will make you a more interesting person that people are attracted to. People are drawn to insight like moths to a flame. When you can connect things and make light of situations that others cannot you start to have that most interesting man in the world aura to you.
Fiction is also about as close as you can get to time travel. You can read Hemingway to see how people felt during the great war, Chandler to see how people felt in 1930s Los Angeles, and so on.
After a while you gather that the same problems that we face were felt by all the generations before us in one way or another.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 03:15 PM
I gave up on fiction when I was 20. The only fiction book I really liked was Animal Farm which is more of a parable. I feel it was divinely inspired. Most fiction is forgettable. The crime books, the romance and the thrillers are like bubble gum to me.
Don't debate me.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 03:15 PM
I think a good starting point for someone who might like to read fiction but is apprehensive about picking up a huge novel should try a collection of Joseph Conrad's short stories. Every one a masterpiece, and insight into human nature that transcends the 100+ years since they were written.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 03:30 PM
I started to move away from fiction in high school; I still appreciated literature classes but my interest in history, mythology and philosophy simply eclipsed it over time. At this point I have no real plans to read fiction in the immediate future, although I'd like to eventually, because a man can't count himself as truly learned if he lacks a strong familiarity with the great works of fiction of his language. Still, my rather sizable and ever-growing stack of non-fiction books beckons, so for the moment fiction shall have to wait.
If or when I get to it, I'd like to start with a good base of Shakespeare: Hamlet, Julius Caesar, The Tempest and then reread Macbeth. Then I'd hope to get to Ulysses by James Joyce or Moby Dick by Melville...I've heard nothing but the highest praise about both, although I'm sure they'll test my literary endurance to the breaking point. Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man could also be a good start, and Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray seems very intriguing as well. I could also be tempted to begin with something lighter and easier like Austen's novels, although I remain skeptical as to whether her seemingly quaint love stories are on the same level as works of more philosophical substance and weight...maybe a more well-read member than myself could comment on that.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 03:40 PM
A good shortcut is to simply not read any modern fiction, most of which is either pulp trash or the rambling of a diseased liberal mind. The classics are considered classic for a reason. Stick with the classic works of fiction and non-fiction, and then only read the modern non-fiction which has specific, practical appeal to you (i.e. technical subjects, work-related, money-making/business, health, etc...). To be frank, all the important questions about life were answered a long time ago. You will find them in the classics. You aren't going to learn anything useful about life (that is, how to live) from modern works. The vast majority of modern books are just garbage published with the goal of making money. This is not a new phenomenon, either. Schopenhauer had some
useful advice about reading:
Quote:Quote:
Hence, in regard to our subject, the art of not reading is highly important. This consists in not taking a book into one’s hand merely because it is interesting the great public at the time — such as political or religious pamphlets, novels, poetry, and the like, which make a noise and reach perhaps several editions in their first and last years of existence. Remember rather that the man who writes for fools always finds a large public: and only read for a limited and definite time exclusively the works of great minds, those who surpass other men of all times and countries, and whom the voice of fame points to as such. These alone really educate and instruct.
One can never read too little of bad, or too much of good books: bad books are intellectual poison; they destroy the mind.
In order to read what is good one must make it a condition never to read what is bad; for life is short, and both time and strength limited.
[size=8pt]"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”[/size] [size=7pt] - Romans 8:18[/size]
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-24-2016, 03:44 PM
In my thirties.
Still like to read a little high quality fiction now and again, but it's not as interesting as learning something.
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01-24-2016, 03:50 PM
When I was younger I gave up on fiction as I thought I don´t have time for that. Now I am older and out of the hamster wheel I see that I should probably have read more fiction when I was younger.
There are two main reasons why fiction has it´s merits for me. First of all it´s the easiest way to practice your imagination. It´s like jogging it´s a basic and necessary skill.
Another reason is you learn stuff slow without pressure. You can enjoy learning. Story telling was always the natural way of learning. Learning with non fiction is necessary but can be to much and produce mental overload.
Additionally non fiction has no soul. Fiction let´s us connect with the human part of ourselfs.
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01-24-2016, 06:33 PM
I think the healthy reading mind needs variety: non-fiction, fiction, and a bit of poetry here and there.
Too much of one thing dulls the senses.
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01-24-2016, 07:16 PM
By the way, those of you talking about this "bubble gum fiction," you're clearly reading the wrong stuff. You don't read trash nonfiction, so don't read trash fiction; let's keep this apples to apples.
Try some Cormac McCarthy (same guy who wrote "No Country for Old Men."). I've read two books of his and both haunt me to this day. The man is a true master at his craft.
If you're willing to challenge your assumptions the two books are "The Road" and "Blood Meridian."
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01-24-2016, 08:04 PM
^ Sure, you can say that, but most people don't know when they're reading something inaccurate - it's still categorized as nonfiction. Much of what we think we know will someday be shown inaccurate or incomplete; even worse, many of today's nonfiction books are riddled with fallacies; inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete data; and skewed perspectives.
In fact, the older I get the more I understand how little in books can be trusted (perhaps even moreso than others since I write for a living). I mentioned this in the post above when I said much of nonfiction is largely imaginary.
Anyhow, I still love nonfiction, though, and this is all a tangent; it's certainly better to keep educating yourself.
Yes, in the context that I was using the word "trash," I was just referring to quality. As you said poorly written, and I'll add "lacking of substance." Or written for a mindless audience.
There are a ton of poorly written nonfiction books out there too, so let's make sure we're not comparing "48 Laws of Power" (which I've read is riddled with many of its own historical inaccuracies, ironically) to "bubble gum fiction" and calling it a fair comparison - that's all I was saying.
I think guys who brush off fiction ought to try a glass of the good stuff before committing to that idea.
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-25-2016, 02:46 AM
Never, I wouldn't call a Dostoevsky novel a 'waste of time' simply because it's fiction.
But maybe you mean fiction meant purely for entertainment.
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01-25-2016, 03:26 AM
I wouldn't trade in fiction for anything. Fiction is the blueprint for superb storytelling. You should be underlining awesome phrases and ideas and trying to use them when you tell stories to people: your family, your boss, your friends and random bar sluts.
You can never be too good at telling stories.
I try to read more non-fiction, but I always try to spend a few hours a week reading some good fiction. It keeps me creative and intrigued.
I will be checking my PMs weekly, so you can catch me there. I will not be posting.
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01-25-2016, 04:25 AM
Example of trash non fiction. Dianetics by Hubbard. I couldnt finish the book.
Don't debate me.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-25-2016, 07:18 AM
Aside from deriving some enjoyment from reading the early Harry Potter books in middle and high school, I was never really into fiction. Aside from building your imagination, I think it's silly. Maybe I don't appreciate it in the way it's meant to be appreciated, but I've always found scientific articles and biographies of great people to be much more stimulating, as you can actually relate these sources to your life in meaningful ways.
I guess what I appreciate most about fiction is the symbolism. It's nice to think on multiple levels.
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You'll know the truth by how it feels.
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At what point did you trade in fiction for nonfiction?
01-25-2016, 10:21 AM
Growing up in public school, I learned to read by reading fiction & the only books I was ever assigned were fiction. The only time I read growing up was when I was assigned a book, obviously fiction. I hated reading and thought it was a waste of time. After attending college for a year and taking a semester off, I began to think about career paths and picked up John Ashcroft's Never Again - 9/11 told from the perspective of the Attorney General. I was fascinated by how exciting and interesting these actual events were and how much I was able to learn from it. I began picking up any nonfiction I could find, starting with biographies & histories, then moving into philosophy and religion and science. I've been a voracious reader ever since. I still dip into fiction every once in a while for the classics, but I make sure I'm always reading some great man's biography and other nonfiction from which to learn.
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