Essay Example on Reading for Success: Unlocking the Power of Nonfiction Books

Everyone can perceive reading as an essential element that develops a successful life. When one consumes some content, he or she sharpens their intellect and build their set of knowledge. It appears nearly universal that the more successful an individual is, the more he or she reads. However, the reading is often one dimensional where people find themselves reading nonfiction works, including business books, health and psychology, self-help books, relationships and books on sales. These are key books that one can use to better their career ad improve their life. However, it is essential for an individual to integrate fiction.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

When we read fiction, our perception regarding the world opens. For instance, when one reads stories, including genocide, it is easier to understand their impact. We also deepen our prayers for individuals facing human trafficking. This is due to the fact that stories take us to places that we could not make and widens the view of the world. When Christians read fiction, they open their minds and improve their knowledge of the world (Zunshine). They can comfortably engage atheist neighbours in any conversation and often take a firm stand against any form of social injustice.

Reading fiction helps Christians learn empathy. It plunges us into individuals. This is exemplified when Jesus used stories that played the role of engaging people and imparted truth in them. Fiction allows us to understand how other people feel when we do wrong to them and understand what they experience. As a result, we develop empathy with such individuals. God makes use of stories to facilitate healing. Besides, fiction unmasks Christians. It helps us reveal, perceive, and know our secrets. Fiction gives us an opportunity to see ourselves as characters, to find healing and truth. Fiction allows us to watch characters struggle and then face the truth that sets these characters free (Kidd). Further, fiction creates a paradox that pushes us to ask questions, leading us to seek God. We can also make use of fiction in better navigation of scriptures. As we read the Bible, it is emphasized that we also read from other sources. We get connected to the Creator more easily. When we appreciate the creative work of others, it is understood that we do a great honour to God. It is a significant image of worship, taking into consideration that we are made in God’s image (NKJV, Genesis 1:26-28). Therefore, we are given the legacy to honour and appreciate creativity within ourselves.

The community we live in is usually built more when we read novels. First, a novel develops a community between the reader and the writer. God created human beings for community and fiction, rekindles the simple unity between us. This occurs via the ability to know the mind of other people and understanding it. Second, reading fiction serves in widening our human community. It is a form of art that assess human beings to explore the meaning of human. Fiction also helps us express our experiences and emotions in a manner that ultimately connects us. It offers a description of the surrounding world such that we can appreciate it even more.

Conclusion

Some novels have considerably destroyed lives. However, there are fiction novels that contributed to revolutions, enacted life-changing laws, and restored hope. We can well understand the redemption landscape, especially between the covers of a well-narrated story. The power of fiction should not be ignored as it causes significant transformation.

Works Cited

Kidd, David Comer, and Emanuele Castano. "Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind." Science (2013): 1239918. DOI: 10.1126/science.1239918

The Holy Bible New King James version.

Zunshine, Lisa. Why we read fiction: Theory of mind and the novel. Ohio State University Press, 2006.