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THINK ABOUT IT . . .
Do you read for pleasure, just to pass the time, or
do you read to improve your mind, your body, your life? Do you put thought
into what you read?
I must admit, I’m a fiction junkie. It’s difficult
for me to stick with anything non-fiction. The only exception to that rule is
non-fiction written like fiction. Yes, I have issues. So what’s a junkie like
me to do? Is it possible to improve oneself on a fiction-only diet?
I submit to you that fiction is a great way to
improve your mind. But it takes some initiative. Here are 5 steps to using
fiction to improve your mind.
1. Don’t inhale.
I used to burn through a 400-page novel in two days
and then pull out the next one within minutes. Even late at night sometimes,
like a chain-smoker . . . I mean, chain-reader. Can’t get enough. Must start
another story.
But I found myself forgetting those stories. When I
devour a story all at once, reading throughout the day, as fast as I can,
breathless . . . it dampens the experience for me because I miss things. Who
wants to gulp down a gourmet meal? No one. You want to savor it. Consider the
flavors. The textures. Stop for a few moments to look around you - examine the
world you are escaping into.
2. Chew thoroughly.
When I read something important, something I want
to remember . . . I run over the details in my mind. I limit myself to
reading only after I'm finished working, but I think about the characters, the
setting, the plot all day. I take time to savor the flavors. Discover nuance.
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Photo
credit: Insert Magazine / Foter / CC BY-NC
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3. Let it settle.
We all know it’s a myth that you cannot swim right
after a meal, but there is some merit to the idea of waiting for a meal to
settle before you jump into something new. When you finish a book, what does
that last line make you feel? Did it satisfy, or leave you wanting? Why did the
ending succeed (or not)? Why do you miss the characters? What about the story
surprised you the most? Why?
I know, this might feel like 10th grade English for
some of you. But if we don’t take time to reflect on what we just read, then it
dissipates and fades into something meaningless, a mere title on a list called:
I've read that.
4. Apply it to life.
Okay, people talk about applying the Bible to life.
Or a How-To book. But fiction? Yes, fiction. Because stories are about people
and the decisions they make. All we need to do in order to apply a story to
life is ask the question: What if I were in that situation? Would I
make the same decision? Why? Why not? Using the imagination can help us feel or
understand consequences of certain actions without going there ourselves. And
that can be a good thing.
5. Tell someone.
Anyone who knows me well can vouch for the truth of
this statement: I can bring a book into almost any conversation. I’m not
saying you need to talk about books all the time. But the more I read, the more
I see good fiction reflecting life. If I have compared the fiction I read to
real life, and if I’ve thought about similar situations and what I might do if
I found myself facing similar giants, then I can voice an opinion on it. And
sometimes when I share an insight I learned from a book, it makes someone else
think. And then I have something new in common with the people I’m talking to
and that builds relationship.
Think about the best meal you can remember eating.
Picture that meal as you start reading your next novel and consider these steps
as you read. Savor the flavor. Your mind will be better for it.
What do you think? Does it matter how you read? Can
fiction improve your mind? Your life? Leave us a comment.
Postscript: This post is for readers. I realize
folks in the publishing biz are not going to savor the flavor of the billions
of words they must read everyday for work. But I think those professionals know
how to chew on good words when they taste them.
