The Surprising Truth about Reading Stories
Many people choose not to dive into a good fiction book, but they are missing out. Some people
believe that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are not true. However, scientists have found that reading fiction can benefit the brain and reduce stress. Reading fiction can help readers solve problems and even help them to become more thoughtful human beings. Contrary to being a waste of time, fiction can actually help the reader have a more productive life.
With all the options for entertainment today, it might seem like fiction books would decline in
popularity. But each day, around 2 million books are sold in the United States. People will wait in line for hours when a new novel in a popular series becomes available because they cannot wait to find out what happens next. Most likely, these readers are completely unaware of the practical benefits they are also receiving when they devour exciting new stories.
Practice without Risk
Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle recognized how stories connect us. In his time, novels were not readily available, so people watched fictional plays. Aristotle said that when people watch a tragedy, they feel emotions, including pity for the character and concern for themselves.
Fictional stories cause readers to imagine what it is like to be a character in a story. People may
consider how they might react if they were in the same circumstances. Scientist Keith Oatley
believes that this reaction helps people practice understanding the feelings of others. He calls fiction “the mind’s flight simulator.” When people train to become pilots, they sit in a flight simulator. There, they perform all the actions they would in a real airplane cockpit but without any risk. According to Oatley’s research, fiction acts the same way. It allows people to practice solving problems or communicating with others but without taking any actual risks.
Studies show that as people read, they start to think about a character’s goals instead of their own. If the character is racing against time to accomplish something important, readers will feel emotions as if they were in the same position. In fact, the parts of their brain that would perform the actions in real life become activated. For example, when we read the word “jump,” the parts of our brain that are related to physically jumping become active.
By practicing different experiences without actually doing them, readers learn how to handle life’s experiences better. They gain wisdom from the experiences of the characters and become better at solving problems. In addition, they may become more caring about the feelings of others.
The Personal Connection
Recently, scientists have been exploring the connection between fiction and caring for other people in the real world. Scientist Diana Tamir of Princeton University performed brain scans of people as they read fiction. She saw increased activity in the parts of the brain that think about what others are thinking or feeling. Readers cared about the characters and their struggles, concerns, and hopes.
Other studies have shown that people who read fiction tend to perform more volunteer work and
help people in need more often. They may also care more about how animals are being treated.
Why is this so? When people read about characters, they come to care about them. Instead of
thinking and caring only about themselves, they are thinking and caring about others. This attitude carries over into real life. Once again, fiction becomes a chance to practice. Practicing caring helps build the habit of caring.
A Sharper Mind
When people read stories, their brains are constantly processing. They imagine what might happen next or how the story might end. As they gain new information, they may adjust their predictions. All of this helps the brain. Scientists have found that reading fiction increases creativity, and it has other brain benefits. Fiction readers gain improved memories and larger vocabularies. All of this helps to strengthen the mind.
A Happier Life
According to researchers at the University of Sussex in England, reading is the most effective way to reduce stress. When people read fictional stories, their brains get a chance to rest from trying to solve their own problems. Scientists found that after just six minutes of reading, people’s heart rates slowed down and their muscles became less tense. Perhaps this is also why studies show that reading fiction helps people to sleep better at night.
Finally, one of the best things about reading fiction is that it makes readers happy. In one study,
76 percent of fiction readers said that reading improved their life and helped them feel good. They became more satisfied with life and happier in general.
There is no doubt that good stories can be entertaining, exciting, and inspiring, but reading fiction provides so many additional benefits that it is clearly not a waste of time. It is a wise investment. So go ahead; curl up with a good book. Your life will be better for it.
Prompt:
Read the sentence from the passage.
Some people believe that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are
not true.
Write an essay analyzing the effectiveness of the author’s response to this
statement. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
In the passage, the author responds to the statement that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are not true. The author argues that this belief is incorrect and presents evidence to support the benefits of reading fiction. The author's response is effective because it presents a well-reasoned argument, uses scientific evidence to support claims, and appeals to readers' emotions and experiences.
To support the argument that reading fiction is not a waste of time, the author presents evidence from scientific research. For example, the author cites Keith Oatley's research that fiction is the mind's flight simulator, allowing readers to practice solving problems and communicating with others without taking any actual risks. The author also cites studies that have shown that reading fiction can increase creativity, improve memory, and reduce stress. By using scientific evidence, the author appeals to readers' logical reasoning and provides credible support for the argument.
However, the author also appeals to readers' emotions and experiences to support the argument. For example, the author notes that many people wait in line for hours to read the latest novel in a popular series, implying that there must be something compelling and enjoyable about reading fiction. The author also argues that reading fiction can make readers happier and more satisfied with their lives. By appealing to readers' emotions and experiences, the author adds a personal dimension to the argument and makes it more relatable.
Overall, the author's response to the statement that reading fiction is a waste of time is effective because it presents a well-reasoned argument supported by scientific evidence and appeals to readers' emotions and experiences. By doing so, the author challenges the common belief that fiction is a waste of time and encourages readers to see the value in reading fiction.