@wisfamily

I love to read and always have since I could hold a book up until this day. I mostly read fiction since college and have favorite authors. I do take exception to your point that implies fiction has no value as far as teaching or learning new information. That is not the case and what @sueinmn said about her father.....my father was of the same mind. I grew up around books.

There have been numerous scientific studies concluding that reading fiction has multiple benefits. Fiction activates the area of the mind relating to empathy. Essentially the brain reacts as if we are actually living the events and can help us in negotiating our social world and sometimes complex relationships.

Fiction is effective for releaving stress because you are temporarily disengaged from events around you causing that stress. This is why fiction readers tend to sleep better. Regular readers of fiction tend to have lower stress levels, higher self esteem and lower rates of depression than non readers.

Fiction opens up your mind and can help you to look at different perspectives of people and perhaps be more appreciative and understanding of others.

Fiction readers tend to have a larger and better vocabulary. I am the type to tends to look up an unfamiliar word. Both my children have amazing vocabularies and are masterful at writing.

You can learn anything by reading anything , even the back of a soup can label. Your book The Four Agreements does sound interesting but I had to smile when I saw the topics regarding mastering awareness and not making assumptions. An avid fiction reader can achieve all that.

While I do read non fiction from time to time my true joy is fiction.....I am currently reading a favorite author...Joyce Carol Oates...."The Falls". I have also put a hold on the latest Stephen King novel (there's an author and makes time fly by).

Do I learn something new everytime I pick up a fiction novel....you bet I do.

FL Mary