There are two kinds of people on this planet: those who read and those who don’t. If you belong to the latter category, then reading can feel like a chore. And if you know of a voracious reader, then you might have received a lesson on the advantages of reading fiction. But if one has to read, then why not just stick to self-help books? Why go into fiction at all? What are the benefits of reading fiction? After all, it’s just fiction, it’s not based on reality, correct?
The benefits of reading novels are virtually immeasurable. According to a study conducted, reading fiction activates multiple parts of your brain, which helps with social cognition through the theory of mind. But that is not all reading does, and when you add fiction into it, its benefits are tenfold. Let’s look at how reading fiction influences our lives.
What Are The Top Benefits Of Reading Fiction Books?
Reading is just not a pastime, it is a powerful tool that helps you shape your mind. And it is interesting to note that something as mind-boggling as fiction can affect not just your brain but also the life of every person you come across. Here are some of the benefits of reading fiction books.
1. Enhances the brain’s cognitive functions
While it might be a little hard to believe, reading fiction books is good for your brain. The brain is like a muscle; the more you use it, the better it works. According to a study, reading fiction activates different parts of your brain, especially the left temporal cortex. This works like an exercise for the brain that boosts cognitive function as well as improves the connectivity of the neural pathways in the brain.
When you read a lot of fiction, your ability to comprehend situations and concepts without witnessing them in a physical form also gets better. Fiction also helps to improve your memory and language skills.
2. Fires up creativity
Another one of the amazing benefits of reading fiction books is that it enhances your creativity. When a person reads fiction, their mind begins to create the scenes from the story. The part of the brain that is responsible for this imagination is also responsible for creative thinking.
Fictional stories often have complex characters and stories. Keeping track of the story and the character development expands the mind’s capabilities. As a result, fiction readers often come up with multiple creative solutions to a given problem. When I was having recurring fights with my partner, I remembered Sherlock Holmes’ methods of deduction and approached the problem with curiosity rather than judgment. This helped my partner to open up more, and I began to understand his point of view.
3. Builds empathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and try to see life from their point of view. And what better way to do it than reading fiction?
Our brain has this interesting feature where, at times, it cannot tell the difference between reality and imagination. When a person reads fiction, they imagine the story is being played out in their head. This allows them to experience the characters and the events happening in the book, as if they were happening to them personally. They are capable of experiencing an entire range of emotions. This helps the reader develop empathy that improves their social interactions in the real world as well.
4. You become smarter
You might have found yourself wondering, “Can reading fiction make you smarter?” While the answer itself can feel like something right out of a fiction book, the truth is, reading fiction not only increases your EQ but also boosts IQ.
According to research conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital, reading fiction helps create new neural pathways, rewire your brain, as well as enhance the white matter in the corpus callosum. This makes the connectivity between the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere of the brain better, making the person more efficient and a fast learner.
5. Fiction leads to better relationships
We are all aware that healthy communication is critical for a good relationship. And one of the advantages of reading fiction is that it gives you a wide range of vocabulary. This not only helps you articulate your feelings, but it also gives you tools to navigate difficult conversations with compassion.
With heightened self-awareness and strapped with a wide variety of perspectives thanks to this genre, fiction readers can empathise better with other people. Talking to people about the books you have read and the ideas in it with a person fosters close bonds, which is helpful when a person feels lonely or unseen.
When my friend, Jennifer, moved into a new city, she was having trouble making friends. No one seemed to be on the same wavelength as hers. So she joined a book club, and before you know it, she started making friends who had similar interests and thoughts to hers.
6. Better stress management
Every living thing has one thing in common, and that’s stress. Be it a plant, an animal, a child, or an adult, we all experience stress. Plants are stressed out when they are not watered, dogs are stressed out when you leave them alone for long periods, children are stressed out about homework, and adults are stressed out about finances. Stress is common. However, one of the greatest benefits of reading fiction is that it helps you destress.
Onee study by Sussex University claims that reading fictional books can help a person destress up to 68%. When you start reading, within a span of a few minutes, your muscles relax, your heart rate slows down, and your blood pressure is lowered. Reading fictional books uninterrupted for thirty minutes every day can help you relieve stress to a large extent. So, if you are wondering if there are any benefits to reading fiction, then you have your answer.
7. Reading fiction books makes you a happier person
It is difficult to imagine that fiction books can make you happy, but ask any of the fiction readers you know, and they will wholeheartedly concur. Fictional books can give you a perspective on things that help you cope with real-life situations.
One of the advantages of reading fictional stories is that it helps you deal with depression or anxiety that stems from loneliness. When the reader relates to the character in the book, it allows them to process emotions and feelings along with the character. This ends up being a cathartic experience for them.
8. Sleep comes easily
As kids, nothing used to make us fall asleep faster than our school books. However, reading fiction doesn’t quite work like that. You will not find yourself falling asleep due to boredom; instead, reading fiction will help you unwind.
Fiction readers use fictional stories as a diversion. It allows them to clear their minds of their internal struggles and anxieties and gives them an opportunity for adventure in the book world. If you are a person who tosses and turns in bed because of all the inflow of thoughts, incorporating reading historical fiction books or fantasy in your nighttime routine will pause the barrage of thoughts and encourage the mind to go into a relaxed state for better sleep.
Max, a military officer from Kottayam, was dealing with insomnia when he got the idea of reading a book before bed. He got Wind in the Willows from the library and incorporated it into his night routine. And just like that, sleep came easier to him.
9. You learn more
If you ask someone, “Is there any benefit to reading fiction?”, then you might not think “knowledge” would be one of the answers. After all, what knowledge can Harry Potter give you, right? Not really.
Even though Harry Potter is a part of fantasy fiction, the book has, in fact, taken inspiration from many famous legends. The character Nicholas Flamel was a real person. He was a French scholar and a book seller during the 14th-15th century, a time when alchemy was widely studied and practiced.
Books, no matter what genre they belong to, will give you information, and fiction is no different. If you are a fan of history, then reading historical fiction will teach you what happened to Henry VIII and his 6 wives. If you are into all things scientific, then reading science fiction books certainly helps you comprehend ‘time’ and ‘theory of relativity’. Similarly, even the most unrealistic fantasy fiction will teach you, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
10. Reading Fiction increases attention span
If we pay close attention to our lives, then we will realize that it’s gotten a little difficult to focus on things for extended periods of time. According to a study, our attention spans have significantly decreased since the advent of digital media. Our attention span has gone down to 8 seconds from the initial 12 seconds, which is less than that of a goldfish that boasts an attention span of 9 seconds.
Fiction helps.
One of the advantages of reading fiction is that it helps you to improve your memory and attention span. Fiction requires you to focus on the story by remembering the events that took place, the complexities of the character, and the plot lines. This exercise helps the brain with long-term memory as well as attention span, according to the research conducted by the Beckman Institute.
11. Fiction is entertaining
The reason fiction readers exist is that fiction is entertaining. It gives the reader an opportunity for adventure and to live it through someone else. While people can call it Escapism (too much of anything is a bad idea), it is by far one of the healthiest coping mechanisms out there.
Fiction allows you to distract yourself for a while and give yourself a respite from the thoughts of the daily struggle of existence.
5 Fiction Books We Recommend You To Start Reading Fiction
In today’s fast-paced world, curling up with a book can be the line between sanity and losing your marbles. When the heart craves an adventure but the body and mind are too tired, then fiction books act like that perfect cup of tea on a rainy afternoon. Here are some books that are sure to make you fall for them hook, line, and sinker.
1. Dune by Frank Herbert
Published in the year 1965, this book is the answer when someone asks, “ Why read science fiction?” With themes of power, religion, and politics, this science fiction book is about A man whose family has taken over Arrakis, the desert planet with the powerful element called Spice in it. The protagonist is betrayed and exiled, where he joins hands with the natives of the planet to take back what rightfully belongs to him.
2. Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
If you have heard of the series, then you will love the book. A part of the fantasy genre, Game of Thrones is the First book of the series. With themes of war, politics, and religion, the story revolves around the Iron Throne and the battle of the Seven Kingdoms to claim it.
With complex characters and jaw-dropping plot twists, this story will have you rooting for some characters, as well as hating some characters from the bottom of your heart. This book is a must when you want to get the most out of reading fiction.
3. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Based in war-torn Japan in the times of WW II, this book is written from the point of view of Sayuri, and her journey from a Maiko, an apprentice geisha, to the most famous geisha in Kyoto. It talks about the struggles of a girl sold off, and her dreams of entering the artistic but painful world of the geishas just to be with the man she fell in love with as a Maiko.
4. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Considered a classic, A Man Called Ove is about a grumpy 59-year-old who battles with grief over the loss of his wife. Unable to move on, Ove contemplates ending his life, but his attempts are rendered futile by the constant interruptions from a young family in the neighbourhood.
5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Where historical fictions are concerned, Philippa Gregory is the queen herself. The book The Other Boleyn Girl is about Mary Boleyn, the sister of the famous Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, and her trials maneuvering the treacherous English court. Coming from a politically powerful family, she is used by them as a pawn to earn favours from the king. Even though the plan works and Henry begins to court Mary and she is quickly put aside for her sister Anne Boleyn. The book tracks the plight of Mary, who was once the king’s favourite, to eventually become a nobody even in the eyes of her family.
Reading isn’t just something to kill time. It comes with the ability to enhance your life by making you kinder, smarter, more relaxed, and connected. So grab that book that you always wanted to try. Your brain, your heart, and your eyes will thank you for it.
FAQs
Reading is a good habit. No matter what you read, at the end of the day, it is going to help you.
However, reading fiction is more beneficial than reading non-fiction in certain ways. The kind of brain development fiction provides is hard to find in any other genre.
While there are no specific disadvantages to reading fiction books, too much of anything can be a problem. Fiction stories should be used as a distraction and not an escape from reality.
Yes. Reading fiction leads to the creation of more neural pathways, exercises long-term memory, and better cognitive function,s which helps to improve memory.
