FlippED is an ED Original style wherein two bloggers come together to share their opposing or orthogonal perspectives on an interesting subject.
We’re back with FlippED!
In world where where we are surrounded by content, our bloggers wanted to pick the best for all the reading raccoons out there. They wondered if one’s valuable time should be spent reading Self-Help or Fictional books. Read the opposite perspectives of our bloggers and pick your side!
WHY READ NON-FICTION?
If you still like fairy tales, I’ll gift you a Hello Kitty pouch. But if you like books by Robin Sharma, Stephen Covey, or any other great non-fiction writer, you are in the elite league.
~ Blogger Somnath’s perspective
I have been a Potter-head, lover of Dan Brown and Jeffrey Archer books and almost my entire school life, I have spent maximum time in the library. But I think I have now outgrown fiction.
Rich Dad Poor Dad, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Power of Now are the kind of books I spend time buried into now. Why?
Because I think I’ve grown-up and I don’t need to mentally date Nancy Drew. I do not disagree with the fact that fiction is great to read, but reading non-fiction can actually give you some benefits, unlike novels which only give you one thing – entry into another fandom.
You Get Inspired
Have you ever been inspired by Robert Langdon to dive deep into history and look for the descendant of some old Indian saint?
Maybe, if that’s all that you do. Fiction doesn’t inspire people too much. When you read books about people’s real-life failures and how they recovered from it, you get inspired.
When you read about how a young man built an entire multi-national company starting from a garage, you get inspired.
When you read of Nehru’s stories, you come to know that members of Congress have always been nuts.
You Learn Valuable Life Lessons
Self-help books are usually not someone’s guide to success. They are stories of people who made wrong choices, generally the author’s, which teach you what is not to be done in life.
There are also stories of how someone in great distress all through life never gave up till the end. These are things that are much needed these days.
You Become A Better Communicator
Honestly, novels and story books help you build vocabulary, true. But non-fictional books actually help you get better at English because they have conversations and notes too.
You also become a better communicator in terms of expressing your ideas to people by reading non-fiction. As young adults, we need more of these self-help books now.
If you still like fairy tales, I’ll gift you a Hello Kitty pouch. But if you like books by Robin Sharma, Stephen Covey, or any other great non-fiction writer, you are in the elite league.
Also Read: FlippED: Is FIFA Being Sexist With Disparity In Prize Money At The Men’s And Women’s World Cup?
WHY READ FICTION?
In a world of Robin Sharma lovers, dare to be a Jane Austen or an Enid Blyton lover.
~ Blogger Aanchal’s perspective
As we continue to live in a world where libraries are filled with Self-Help books and everyone wants to become ‘successful in five easy steps’, reading fiction is the only thing that can keep one sane.
The shelves are overflowing with books that give one the false illusion of being anything they want to be in quick easy steps. People are hooked on to these guides like junkies and do not believe in reading fiction anymore.
As someone who grew up reading Enid Blyton and still frequently indulges in fictional works, here’s why I believe that reading fiction is better than binging on these improvement books:
Fiction Makes You Look Beyond Yourself
Fiction allows you to think outside of yourself. It makes you look at the world through a character’s perspective. You see the world zoomed in and even notice the little things that often go unnoticed in daily life.
You also get perspective on issues that you’ve never encountered before. This expands your horizon and you become less self-absorbed.
Fiction Makes You Empathetic
How great must be the power of fiction and storytelling that you begin to feel for the characters involved in the story! A character you’ve never met and you know doesn’t exist still evokes emotions in you.
When you read fiction you automatically can put yourself in another person’s shoes. It makes you understand and empathize with not only the characters in the book but also with those around you.
Fiction Reduces Stress Levels
You might think that picking up a Self-Help book on stress management will magically make your stress disappear but that is not how the real world works.
According to various studies, reading fiction is one of the most effective ways to combat stress. It allows one to take a break from the world around them, therefore, helping the brain recharge in the process.
So if you are someone who loves reading fiction and is labelled as ‘immature’ by others or told to grow up, you must remember that by reading fiction you are doing yourself and the world around you a favor.
Sources: Blogger’s Views
Image Credits: Google Images
Find The Bloggers: @anxioushustler and @som_beingme
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