I used to read a ton of books. For decades I averaged about one a week. I would read mysteries, historical, business books, self-help (although I kept that part to myself).
I would go through the New York Times bestseller list and be so proud of how many of those books I’d devoured. I kept a journal with a rating system and a brief summary of why I liked (or didn’t like) the book.
I was a book reading machine! Then, for whatever reason, I stopped.
Like some teenager who got his first tablet, I discovered electronics. I started binge watching TV shows and movies, I listened to Audible, I got into podcasts.
Not long ago, however, I started craving good old-fashioned hard-cover books again: The smell of newly printed paper, the crisp rustle as you turn pages, the way words seem to sink in deeper with when read from a physical book. I started to read good old-fashioned books again, and it has been wonderful.
What sparked the change was a Substack article I read by Adam Grant, “The Case for Reading Fiction.” Adam says that as a kid he loved fiction and then turned to non-fiction later in life believing that was a better way to learn and grow. Similarly, I too loved fiction and later made the same switch to non-fiction. That, and the fact that we are both bald, is probably all Adam and I have in common.
But Adam challenges our thinking by saying: “It turns out that if you want to gain insight into other people’s thoughts, feelings, and motives, reading fiction typically beats nonfiction. Fiction is also better for enhancing empathy than watching TV and movies. Across 70 experiments, novels did more to boost concern for and understanding of others.”
Isn’t that fascinating? In an age where we are more divided than ever, reading fiction can give us more understanding and empathy towards others. I was willing to take the challenge. So, while I am still working through a stack of business books I have on my nightstand, I’ve added a couple of really good fiction titles to my list. Adam recommended “The Glass Maker” by Tracy Chevalier, and it has struck me so far. I am friends with folks who run a glass making business in Murano, Italy, where the story takes place, so the book is transporting me to wonderful memories of learning about glass making in Venice. I love it.
Good novels invite us to imagine ourselves as the characters. When Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, or the March sisters of Little Women are working through the perils and challenges of their lives, we imagine ourselves in similar situations. When we read their stories, we become them.
Reading can also spark creativity and greater understanding. And who doesn’t need more of that in their lives?
Now I know when you travel as much as I do, packing around a hardcover book isn’t always easy. I will say this though, it is always worth it.
What books are you reading (over and above what is required for work or school)? I am always looking for a good title. And, as always, thank you for your support. Please keep reading!
Chester Elton
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