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I would love to read more, but apart from not finding a lot of time lately, when I do read, it's fiction. Occasionally I have read a textbook on a topic I am re
by radarsat1 11mo ago
I would love to read more, but apart from not finding a lot of time lately, when I do read, it's fiction. Occasionally I have read a textbook on a topic I am really interested in, and I've read blogs and articles on various sciency themes, but when it comes to books, I have just never been very into reading non-fiction. I don't try often, but when I do, I get one or two chapters in and just .. fail to pick it up again.
I know that non-fiction would be "good for me." Particularly reading more in topics I'm less knowledgable about, like finance and business and politics. Personal growth. However, I do find that fiction helps expand my perspective and even, somehow, knowledge, but it's different from non-fiction, less direct. I don't read for that, explicitly, although I do like the effect. But I read because.. I guess, because it's nice for my brain to be somewhere else. I don't know. But non-fiction has never done it for me.. my mind just gets.. bored, I think, trying to absorb what someone else wants me to know. Even when I find the topic interesting.
I guess there are people who like non-fiction and people who like fiction and they often cross-over but I think most people lean one way or the other. I can see there being positives and negatives to either side. People who equally read both must be rare? Or maybe it's just my impression.
- Planktonne 11mo ago> I know that non-fiction would be "good for me." I think this depends heavily on which non-fiction, particularly when contrasted with which fiction you're currently reading. I don't think reading the same self-help books as a bunch of CEO's who see themselves as bold outsiders to the system will actually benefit you; it didn't make them self-aware. Fiction contains information and ideas; it helps you expand your horizons, and that's generally a good thing. As long as you're not reading a very limited subset of fiction, it will be beneficial.
- deleted 11mo ago[deleted]
- lenkite 11mo agoReading science fiction has given me ideas that I would have never had before. I can comfortably say that it has expanded my narrow mind. Even pulp space-opera helped here! Apart from that, taking the time to grok the architecture or top-rated issues of open source projects helps to make you a better developer - or at-least avoid obvious mistakes when coding some new feature of your own.