8 reasons to read more than fiction
Books / / December 19, 2019
1. Development of empathy
fiction reading developsNovel Finding: Reading Literary Fiction Improves Empathy. empathy and helps to put yourself in the place of another. This is due to the fact that the brain processes the read and the real information the same way.
The left temporal lobe is responsible for the perception of language makes the brain into thinking that he is doing something that actually makes the product the hero. This phenomenon is known as "embodied cognition". In reading, we literally moved into the body of the character.
Thanks to the literature we stop focusing on yourself and begin to understand the behavior and motivations of others.
2. Freedom from stereotypes
The literature demonstrates the laws by which society works, and increases tolerance to minorities and the oppressed.
In one studyThe greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice. fifth graders read excerpts from "Harry Potter". The teacher helped them to analyze the text, which was traced a loyal attitude to the Harry Potter Mudbloods - students born in the Muggle families. After three lessons the children have become more tolerant attitude towards immigrants, homosexuals and refugees.
3. Humility with uncertainty
Stability - a myth, but connoisseurs of the novels is a little worried. StudyOpening the Closed Mind: The Effect of Exposure to Literature on the Need for Closure. It demonstrated that people reading fictional stories, have less need for cognitive certainty, than those who read non-fikshen.
In the experiment, 100 students from the University of Toronto have read one of eight stories or one of the eight essays. Then each filled out a questionnaire which evaluates the level of their emotional needs certainty and stability. The results showed that participants who read the stories are easier to chaos and instability. So they think wider and creative approach to solving problems.
4. Imagination and creative thinking
"The author writes only half of the book. The other half wrote the reader "- so said a classic of English literature, Joseph Conrad. Really good writer says not everything, but only the most necessary, forcing the reader to use imagination. Ethnicity and past heroes atmosphere, the smells, tone of voice - as a director, to eliminate the filming, we often think up the details yourself.
If you find it hard to imagine, grasp the fiction. It will stir your imagination.
5. Healthy sleep and strong nerves
Care in a fictional reality is useful to all who are experiencing stressBut the book - the most effective means. researchReading 'can help reduce stress'. It shows that a total of six minutes of reading reduce the heart rate and relaxes the muscles by 68%. For comparison: listening to music calms by 61%, a walk - by 42%, and a video game - on 21%.
Reading - the perfect activity before bedtime. It distracts, relaxes and helps to sleep.
6. Hard memory and logic
To remember all the characters "War and Peace"And to understand the twists and turns of the plot, we need not only strong nerves, but more advanced memory and logic. Making his way through a complicated affair, you extend the life of your brain. provedLife-span cognitive activity, neuropathologic burden, and cognitive aging.That avid readers in the age of 32% less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
The longer you have selected the product, the more your brain works better.
7. Rich vocabulary
The results of researchReading habits. show a direct correlation between the number of read literature and vocabulary. The table shows the results of a survey of 30-year-old readers.
reading habits | Vocabulary words |
I read a lot, a lot of literature | 29 558 |
I read a lot, sometimes fiction | 28 299 |
Read much fiction rarely | 24 064 |
Sometimes reading, sometimes fiction | 23 353 |
Read sometimes, fiction rarely | 21 947 |
Read rarely, rarely fiction | 12 402 |
If you want to talk nicely to read fiction. So you better learn to formulate ideas and tell stories, get rid of stereotyped phrases in speech and in writing.
8. New friends and opening
Fiction introduces us to the people and sends to the adventure, which we lacks in real life. Characters become our friends, behaviors, and counselors. We argued with them, hate and support. At the same time we feel real emotions. Reading the literature, we did not just escape from reality, but gain new experience.
Journalist and producer Lisa Bo said at the TED conference, as the book helped her to survive the crisis and open up new opportunities.
Fiction teaches others to understand, empathize and sympathize. It activates the imagination and enrich your vocabulary. fiction lovers to think more broadly, open to new experiences and approaches to solving problems creatively. And most importantly - they are more balanced and stronger sleep.
see also
- 7 ways to read a lot of books →
- Like reading paper books and electronic influences our memory and productivity →
- 7 healthy habits that appear by reading books →