How Reading Fiction Affects Your Brain

[@merphynapier42]

Since making this video, I've split my manga content and book content in two different channels. Feel free to follow my book channel if you like: www.youtube.com/@merphynapierreviews

[@zhcultivator]

Hi, what is the name of the song at the end of the video??

[@florisnys4654]

People tend to forget that fiction often includes very real topics: war, grief, heartbreak, but also happiness, love, belonging. etc. I have found myself equally in characters in fiction and non-fiction.

[@Nic0maK]

kind of the same with Science Fiction vs other kind of fiction

[@kundanchhabra]

Yes! Tough topics are easier to absorb and process via fiction!

[@Jay-Kay-Buwembo]

Fiction is also rooted in the origins of literature itself. Literature is rooted in mythology, folk tales, epics, poetry and religion.

[@billylionisnotagoat]

Fiction also gets to explore very complex theories like whole worlds built on philosophical concepts (like brave new world, animal farm,1984 ect) or what life would be like on a desert planet :)

[@swiftypopty1102]

I love diving into tough fiction books to get a better grip on Christopher Nolan's mind-bending movies.

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ~ George R.R. Martin.

[@JohnDoe-fz7hz]

Possibly some have such an adventurous life they don´t need any distractions and if you only can experience that overwhelming emotion when drowned in a fantastic story, well your live surely lacks a lot then.

[@renegadelaw9303]

Does this also apply to watching series or movies(as they are also fictional).

[@JohnDoe-fz7hz]

@@renegadelaw9303 Is watching TV not more of a way to erase brain cells?

[@renegadelaw9303]

@@JohnDoe-fz7hz I am talking about great movies like godfather or Shawshank redemption, or series like black mirror, true detective etc.

[@JohnDoe-fz7hz]

@@renegadelaw9303 I guess the brain processes visual content differently than reading words where everything has to emerge within your Mind and imagination

[@litlbucky]

Reading fiction expanded my vocabulary by introducing me to words like Undulate & Ululate

[@merphynapier42]

I knew this comment would be here 😭

[@noblesseraizel3741]

Oof

[@ptejesh5869]

how is this video posted on feb 8 2022 (today) and you commented a day before🙄🙄🙄

[@noblesseraizel3741]

@@ptejesh5869 must have been a premiere video 🤷‍♂️

[@Anna_the_salty_squirrel]

@@ptejesh5869 Patreon

[@warriorlink8612]

People who usually tell me that fiction is a waste of time will also be frequent watchers of 24 hour news media. Which seems far more fictitious than anything I read.

[@bmasters1981]

Certainly is to me-- especially with all the complaining from the political pundits on FOX "News," for one.

[@wali8253]

My dad an immigrant from Pakistan who could barely speak English would hate it when I would read fiction. He would get angry and make me read something more useful or tell me to not read at all. So I grew up hiding all my books from him. One day my uncle who my dad looks up to found my hidden books and told my dad about it. My dad got furious and started to yell at me. Out of nowhere my chill go with the flow uncle snapped back at him and basically said that reading makes you smarter, improves language, and that reading anything is better than reading nothing. A few days later I noticed my dad started to read completely random things out loud, newspapers, random books lying around the house, articles on websites, etc. He didn’t care what he was reading all he was trying to do was improve his English and now my dad can speak a lot better and encourages everyone to read. He even yells at me and my sister for not reading enough. There is never pleasing this guy xD. Anyways just thought I share.

[@serenityct2]

So glad you didn’t come to hate or give up on reading

[@alxsyana1928]

So proud of you 😊💪

[@jerichoaldrich3041]

Wow, I can relate. My father never saw the point of reading, he never yelled at me though. Just scoffed. I still love him of course and I live separate now. I guess coming from Pakistan nobody encouraged people to read, just study.

[@seaof_stars]

"There is no pleasing this guy" Lmaooo same with my dad (Also pakistani) >_< i still love him tho, and he still loves me, its just a generational difference with diff interests and stuff

[@r.22r]

Im Indian and my family are all obsessed with books. But lemme tell you, reading this comment made me so so happy!! Im the only one in my family who reads fiction so i know how some people can scoff at it. Not in my immediate family, but i definitely got some interesting comments from relatives abt it. They look at fiction like the bastard child of "proper" books.

[@xBlueEyedGoldilocks]

I swear half of my English vocabulary comes from reading fiction books in English. My first language is dutch and while we do learn English in school, I feel like I learnt English way better through reading fiction. Reading fiction in turn also helped me with my English grade because by the time we would 'learn something new' at school about the language, I had already come across it in books making the lessons and tests easy for me. I also think I'm able to use English much better practically because I read so many books. You really only learn so much in school and when you don't actively incorporate things that you learn in school in your everyday life you will most likely forget all about them (I'm looking at you French). Reading books in English from a pretty young age really helped me grasp the English language, so much that I couldn't tell you a thing about the actual 'rules' of the language because I simply don't use the rules that we were taught but instead use all the knowlegde I gained from reading fiction in English to make proper sentences.

[@julianagegenheimer]

It's the same for me. Now I'm doing high school in English while my older siblings, that only read in Braziliam Portuguese, have a way lower English capacity than me. They can communicate if they need to, but they always prefer to rely on me. Even to watch series they put the subtitles in Portuguese. I've already told them to put them in English, but they say they would have to stop it all the time to be able to understand..... And my English grades before joining the International section was always 19/20 in writing and reading and 20/20 in listening. And I totally understand your point about French. I've already forgotten most of the rules. Just haven't forgotten all cause I read some mangas in French - the country I live in, Luxembourg, imports the mangas from either Belgium or Germany, so most are in French.

[@JohnDoe-fz7hz]

Learning Foreign Languages at school is mostly wasted time. Fill your head with hundreds of words and nail in the grammar can´t replace a real-life experience with the language

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

I honestly don't know what kind of person I'd be without fiction. Stories have shown me so much and made me a better person that I otherwise would have been.

[@FM95.5]

Stories have had an immense impact on me as a person too.

[@fndmaioli]

This is why there's a few YA series i'll never forget, because of how much impact they had in my growth when i was a young teen starting to read, i once heard someone describe it as "moral compasses" and i agree, they help shape our minds and values just as much as our own experiences.

[@somethingbambi875]

Life would be really really boring at least. I don't know how I would handle the growing up part and so on. Still growing in other ways 😎

[@FirstOfTheMagi]

Same. I've learned so many valuable lessons and genuine wisdom that authors put into their worlds and stories.

[@llamasarus1]

Reading non-fiction psychology books made me a better person. I'm sure fiction would have also if I read it more.

[@viktoravarkonyi4570]

Reading fiction (that i actually liked) in german got my grade up from an F to an A. It really helps with language learning to see the words and grammar in a context that you care about. Before i hated german and i didn't have a feel for the grammar at all, but when i started reading it helped me to actually feel like my grammar is wrong when it is. Before i had to constantly check every single word, but now i can see more often when something "sounds wrong" and it really helps me make less mistakes on exams. It also helped me think about german as just a language that can be useful and nice instead of the source of all my social anxiety.

[@anonygent]

*fewer mistakes

[@Drag0nvil]

Something similar happened to me. I used to spent time actually trying to study English and try to cram words for exams and such. But I would still average a 4 out of 10. After I started reading fictional books things got better. I graduated with a 9 out of 10 with 0 time forcibly invested. My English isn't perfect nor will it ever be l. But by now I've seen enough of it I can use it to an extent where people are surprised when I tell them that I have dyslexia.

[@57hound]

I’ve had a similar experience learning Italian as a native English speaker.

[@Rafaela_S.]

Sadly I started reading in english after I already finished school. Helped me more than 10 years of english class back in school. Now I start learning japanese and I will take a 1 year course in Japan to bump my skills up enough to be able to read books that are written in simple japanese, already got a few children books, about a little girl that can talk to animals, that sound interesting. Hope with that and learning Kanji I get to a level fast, where I can read tones of japanese light novels.

[@pooppee8146]

Sames, ive ben reeding fore 5 yeers and my are grammer and speling has improved subsantialy

[@hannibal9503]

Never understood non-fictin supremacy lot, especially as a research student, I have to read a lot of non-fiction books but I always keep a fiction book because it just helps me escape from the non-fiction books.It just allows me to relax and enjoy something without any ulterior motive. I feel the conversation and consensus has to be, " See book, like the premise?. read book"

[@maem7462]

Exactly I agree. When I read I like reading for my own entertainment bc I’ve read a bunch of non fiction stuff for school. If I want to learn some non fiction I’d either watch a documentary or look up an article. My reading is so slow that I didn’t want to be reading a non fiction book for a long time

[@gabrielleduplessis7388]

Exactly. I hate how people may say non-fiction is superior only because it is factual and real. Sometimes in its complexity, fiction helps us understand the worlds that non-fiction has. That is why dystopian is so popular because it allows us to see what our country may turn into. We empathize with the people affected which we struggle to in non-fiction sometimes. They go together.

[@FM95.5]

We all gotta have an escape.

[@hannibal9503]

@@gabrielleduplessis7388 absolutely. So I study International Relations so, in some cases i could not understand the circumstances but then i think about the same Concepts in a Lord Of The Rings Middle Earth scenario and it makes much more sense. Like Fiction and Non-Fiction work hand in hand together. So many works of non-fiction concepts are applied to in the worlds of fiction and we can see what the world might be like!

[@gabrielleduplessis7388]

@@hannibal9503 that is so cool. I need to read the Lord of the Rings. Have not found it yet in the library, but really want to read it and your perspective is making me more intrigued.

[@diovamps]

As someone who’s neurodivergent and socially anxious fiction is the only way I’m able to connect and understand the world/people around me or anywhere. I’ve always been super intrigued by people and their emotions but it’s not something I can easily connect with or interact with, reading fiction provides a safe space for me to do so.

[@HamzWithACam]

I've been trying to read a lot lately due to being socially anxious too. My social skills have always been quite weak so I've been reading primarily fiction books now.

[@tryingbutfailing]

Connecting with people is overrated. Don't be anxious. You are better than them. Being shy will get you nowhere.

[@GalladeTheWarrior]

​@@tryingbutfailing "You are better than them" yeah I don't think narcissism is the answer my guy

[@ohcrikey-bd6dr]

​@@tryingbutfailingwhat sort of advice is that? We all need human connections. 'You're better than them' ? Really? Is that a healthy mindset? Thinking you're better than everybody else? How to make friends and influence people. NOT.

[@isla-_-]

⁠@@tryingbutfailingpersonally if it was that easy I wouldn’t be anxious. as I’m autistic it’s not just that I’m shy it’s that I can’t speak in some situations. There’s a fundamental difference.

[@alexinator-hh5fe]

An important part of reading is being able to step into the shoes of someone living a different life than you are, but still being able to see where they're coming from. And fiction is where that concept can be explored to the fullest. And second, not everything has to be tied to the real world or a real event. Sometimes you might just want a nice story to sink in that has a completely different value system and lifestyle than ours.

[@bmasters1981]

"An important part of reading is being able to step into the shoes of someone living a different life than you are, but still being able to see where they're coming from." That has certainly happened with me with the Murder, She Wrote series of books "written" by Jessica Fletcher (main character of the CBS mystery series by that name, expertly essayed by the late, great Angela Lansbury [whose image as Jessica is on the front of each book]) and credited to Donald Bain; I get to explore the world of that active senior citizen mystery writer from fictional Cabot Cove, ME, as she not only solves murder mysteries there in her hometown, but also in various other places and situations (she's been to Moscow, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.-- you name it).

[@bubzy3591]

There’s enough non fiction somewhere around here hmmmm where is it I know I left it somewhere hmmmm oh yea….. REAL LIFE! and I think real life is boring, let me dive into the vast sea of sweet sweet beautiful escapism. Y’all can keep the made up stories about the real life emulators and I’ll stick to the made up stories of the ever expansion of creativity

[@Zett76]

I disagree. AUTO-BIOGRAPHIES are where that concept can be explored to the fullest. "And second, not everything has to be tied to the real world or a real event." I agree. But lots of fiction fans, I've discovered, don't read much "real" things, at all.

[@KolkYT]

There is such a thing as being too focused on productivity. All "productive" aspirations/goals should eventually converge on things that are fundamentally intrinsic like time with your loved ones, reading books you like and just generally enjoying life in your own unique ways. I honestly worry about people that don't read non-fiction because they think it's unproductive, regardless of the truthfulness of it. It means they may be too focused on future goals to appreciate the current moment.

[@Zett76]

I'm currently reading "The Pythons' Autobiography By The Pythons"... There is a lot more than just "fiction" and "productivity". 😛

[@juju1981]

I think fiction also very much helps with social intelligence. Reading fiction allows the reader to see the world from another’s POV - from a different race, culture, sexuality, gender, age, etc., perspective. People are generally too narrow-minded with their own views and personal experiences, and reading fiction allows the reader to expand this. It helps us to understand each other more, our differences, and how we may be similar. It counteracts the “othering” of those different from you. And this is SO important especially in today’s society when internet algorithms simply support this “othering” and keeps people from understanding another’s perspective. (I’m writing this as I’m watching your video, so you may cover everything I just commented, if so, sorry!) Loved this topic and video! Thank you!

[@FM95.5]

I do feel like fiction gives so much prospective!

[@rysivek]

This 100%. Getting inside someone else's head and experiencing the world from their point of view is, in my opinion, the single greatest strength of the book medium for storytelling.

[@MrMac6375]

The internet is also filled with companies looking to suppress certain thought, so that is also encouraging othering.

[@Zivilin]

It's very similar to roleplaying in that regard. Helps you see the perspective of another person.

[@juniorqindes8335]

Do you have proof? Or are you just a religious bigot pushing your opinions on others because we don’t worship the “good word”

[@ameerarashid3335]

Having lived an extremely sheltered life, if I imagine a version of me that hadn't read all these books over the years (i only read fiction), I see an emotionally immature and self centred person, who wouldn't know anything about the world and people. Through reading, I've lived thousands of lives, and loved as many people. Visited futuristic galaxies and experienced the humbling yet difficult lifestyle of centuries ago. Felt the pain of seeing someone sleeping with an empty stomach and at the same time, also the glory of being the centre of attention in a luxurious ball. Seen the course of wars, and lived in far off worlds. If I didn't read, I wouldn't be who I am.

[@twilightincosmos]

beautiful words...its exactly how I feel....:)

[@Zett76]

"I've lived thousands of lives" Me too. I just prefer biographies. Fiction is - well, fiction.

[@josuerizo1]

LOL, your living life through the photo memories of others. What a sad way to live life really.

[@josuerizo1]

To scare to love your own life, that you have to live the life of fictional characters and situations, LOL 🤣🤣. Real life is not like a book, with a plot line. That what y'all needs don't understand. Life has ups and downs all through out, is not a "plot line" like you weird those who read a lot believe.

[@Мөнх-ИвээлМ]

​@josuerizo1 Enjoying different experiences through reading fiction has nothing to do with being scared of living your own life. I enjoy my life, I like what I do, hanging out with friends, etc. But there are so many things that I will NEVER experience. Pure glory, pain, terrifying desperation, etc. Some are awful things, some are great, and knowing them helps make me more open-minded. And I just happen to value open-mindedness. And it's also a hobby of mine.

[@CrazyAjvar]

"I don't read fiction." "What do you read though, DYI manuals? Scientific papers? No? You don't read at all, do you?" Actual conversation I had. Most people who say they don't read fiction actually don't read at all but they found pretentious way of saying it.

[@FM95.5]

Haha, so true!

[@leilaclendon5442]

Not nessisarily true. I have a couple of friends who read heaps of non-fiction. We read a lot of the same sort of non-fiction and we chat about it alot. But neither of them read any fiction. Ones not pretentious about it, he just reads what he likes. The other is pretentious about it thinks that non-fiction is superior to fiction 🙄🙄🙄

[@CrazyAjvar]

@@leilaclendon5442 Most generalized comments are not necessarily true in all cases. Tell me, what non-fiction do you and your friends read? Biographies? Scientific books on what subjects? History essays?

[@leilaclendon5442]

True, I guess this just hasn't been my experience. I'm sure there are people like that. We all met through doing a history degree, so mainly history and politics.

[@Sal3600]

A sample of one. Nice. You should read more non fiction.

[@mcparadise97]

As an American, I read a lot of books with British old English, so I find myself speaking with old English terms sometimes, and people look at me like I’m an old Brit grandma.

[@danielmonteyro]

You probably do it do that they ask what you're saying and you can expose to them that you know Old English 👀

[@UchechukwuBalogun]

Could you recommend some please?

[@gac379]

​@@UchechukwuBalogun I'd recommend any novel written by agatha christie✨

[@matheusvmoraes]

Fiction helped me expand my world comprehension, especially Fantasy. I can pick quite some lessons I've reached from some fantasy series, like The Gentleman Bastards; it shows themes as true friendship, loyalty, and even in The Wheel of Time I can relate with themes of inner struggles, hard choices to be made... So I guess with fiction, you can have tons of fun and still learn a lot with it.

[@FM95.5]

We do get great levels of comprehension from the stories we experience.

[@juniorqindes8335]

“Expand world comprehension” you realize the problem isn’t that it teaches you things… it’s that it teaches you things that aren’t real

[@valerietaylor9615]

I don’t like anything fanciful, which is why I read mainly non-fiction, especially history. Though history is actually stranger than most fiction. 😊

[@Zett76]

I think the video is misleading with this "either-or" view. I read 100s of fiction books, in my youth. All you've said was true. And some point, I found my true passion (psychology). Which opened a whole new world. There are well-written non-fiction books about "true friendship" or "loyalty", you know. 🙂 And about EVERYTHING you can think of. For starters, Martin Seligman (about as famous a psychologist today as Freud 90 years ago) wrote great books about the mechanics of happiness.

[@pizzalogic179]

Art whether it be fiction, music, illustration, whatever... It's medicine for the mind. Another great video Merphy!

[@gym24r79]

There are many benefits of reading fiction. These benefits include improved neural connectivity in the brain, improved analytical skills, memory, and vocabulary. Many factors are involved to put these benefits into practice, but in a short answer, yes, reading fiction can make you smarter.

[@FM95.5]

I hear about how much reading helps memory quite a lot, and I have a great memory! Coincidence, I think not!

[@juniorqindes8335]

Proof of causation?

[@maeg.9123]

this sounds like chat gpt...

[@zencoatlrios2648]

@@maeg.9123 this was from last year...

[@skryvazena6548]

I love reading fiction. It makes me feel emotions, it introduces me to new words, new ideas, new other world, it heals my sadness whenever I feel sad or down.

[@Rie_Bot]

Finally a video I can point towards whenever someone looks down upon me for reading fiction 😭 just the other day, I recommended a book to a new friend of mine, and he responded by saying ,almost word to word, " I don't read fantasy, I like to read books for the purpose of going after more intellectual pursuits." And I am honestly so disappointed.

[@kindlelight]

Sounds like the guys that say "I don't eat for enjoyment. I eat to fuel my body." Ok dude... haha

[@juniorqindes8335]

@@kindlelight no, because no one has to read. Also eating for enjoyment is stupid. Why? Because doctors will tell you that it’s the very basis of eating disorders. Don’t believe me? Maybe read a real book on it. :T then get back to me

[@andreharris144]

what book was it?

[@Rie_Bot]

@@andreharris144 oh this was ages ago but i believe it was the stormlight archive

[@xybersurfer]

i kind of agree with him. if i want entertainment, then i can watch a movie or TV series

[@KandraKSwiftie1985]

I love what you said about grief never really leaving us completely. I lost my older sister almost 23 years ago and feel my grief over her passing is still very much with me. Thank you for sharing this helpful info

[@Neat0_o]

Reading fiction has made me a more dynamic speaker. I find myself more explosive with my words and exceedingly more fluid with the act of speaking. Great video, ma’am.

[@billylionisnotagoat]

i found it really helped me break the world down into metaphors found my self saying "so is it kind of like this and this?" and that really helped me connect with people by translating the meaning not just the words said ....and that skill turned into a love for problem solving ....feeling the world out seeing how things connect you start to wonder why some things don't connect .....honestly the more i sit and think about what reading has done for me the more it kind of spirals upwards like you @indieman8895 Reading fiction has made you a more dynamic speaker and that likely lead to higher social acuity to better job prospects to higher serotonin to more even temperament to better choices comparatively not to mention all the skills that build off dynamic speaking its just this upward spiral that's so mind boggling i cant believe it

[@makennanugent9665]

Fiction has shaped me. It has been my safe place during trying times in my ife. My family didn't think I would love to 18 because of my mental health struggles, therapy, medicine, and books saved my life.

[@osonhouston]

Fictional stories have been a part of human societies and cultures for as long as there have been humans. I am sure there is some evolutionary trait that is beneficial for us and those around us as you stated empathy we have for others is a bond that holds together human societies.

[@moonstonepearl21]

Agreed. So many look down on art, music, and storytelling, and don't remember how these things have always been an intragyral part of human culture. We have a need for these things on a base level. They're a part of who we are.

[@williamerickson520]

Yes, but the concept of fiction as we know it today did not emerge until the mid-1700s. Before then it was all regarded as factually true. Old world mythologies are prime examples.

[@osonhouston]

@William Erickson I disagree, The Epic of Gilgamesh is a prime example. Perhaps those who told the stories may have believed them true but that doesn't make them true.

[@moonstonepearl21]

@@williamerickson520 It doesn't really matter whether they were considered to be true or not (and in the past it was a combination of both), the fact is that story telling is incorporated into the human existence and is a part of our nature.

[@williamerickson520]

@@osonhouston Touché

[@senojor]

And what a vocabulary builder. When SAT prep. classes came around in 11th grade my vocabulary was jacked!

[@davi1415]

Reading stories allow you to live and learn through the lives of hardship and triumphs of other characters. They may not be real, but the experience and the lesson they receive are yours to earn.

[@noname3609]

Sounds like stormlight archive 😁

[@michaelburke4048]

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said, "The difference between fiction and non-fiction, is that in fiction, you are allowed to tell the truth."

[@Real-Name..Maqavoy]

*Are you sure about that?*

[@ShapelessHail]

​​​​​@@Real-Name..Maqavoy 'Fairy tales can be truer than true. Fairy tales don't teach us that dragons are real, but that dragons can be beaten.' -Neil Gaiman I've read some good non-fiction stories only to be disappointed by the overwhelming evidence from eyewitnesses that the story was dramatically embellished sometimes to the extent to be pure fiction. It's disappointing when it happens. With fiction, there are no such lies.

[@Zett76]

Oscar Wilde always preferred effect over truth, so... 😀

[@Zett76]

@@ShapelessHail "Can" is a very weak word, when it comes to telling the truth.

[@SlavkoKusonic]

Nice man I like it

[@daniel_arevalo_6490]

I have been playing the violin for 25 years. Music is a language to me but also so much more. I’m discovering that books do the same thing for me. And these videos about how books affect the brain are so intriguing! Thank you Merphy!

[@andresescudero234]

I learned Spanish up to B2 (CEFR scale) mostly through reading/listening and occasionally having conversations. Nothing compares to reading fiction when it comes to learning vocabulary and building automaticity with language/grammar. Great video!

[@leilaclendon5442]

I also find that I read more non-fiction books when I'm in the habit of reading fiction books. I think I'm just able to get into the flow of fiction easier and then that translates over to non-fiction. Not that reading fiction isn't beneficial in and of itself, but just that I think the two complement each other a lot.

[@JoshsBookishVoyage]

You make a lot of great points. There's a lot you can learn from fiction and non fiction. Some fiction can even teach you facts about the world in much the same way a nonfiction book does. Another great quote from Carl Sagan, "the trick is knowing which books to read".

[@billygilmusic5072]

In this day and age just reading any book is a *major* achievement, considering most of us struggle to even put away our phones, TV's, videogames, etc.

[@HiHello-r4p]

Russia will defeat fiction!

[@meino6465]

7:50 I appreciate this message a lot. It seems that in today's society the concept of "productivity" is regarded to such a high degree that people sometimes forget that yes, it's fine, and even highly recommended, to allow yourself some plain old fun as a part of your daily routine.

[@LobsterFusion]

So true! The people who have to point out "I'd rather LEARN things" and you're just like "dude, we werent even having a conversation. Leave me alone!"

[@mr.dannysbookshelf]

I love to read books, but I love to be read to just as much. And sometimes I get more from some storie compared to others if they are read to me like from an audiobook. This makes so much more sense now!

[@FM95.5]

There's a special feeling that comes with being read to. It takes me back to my younger years!

[@JesusJr269]

I recently started reading fiction as an adult and, as a neurodivergent person, have found it incredibly helpful when empathising with people irl. It can teach you to really consider what a person must be feeling or believe about the world to behave in a certain way.

[@dawievaneeden5786]

Honestly, as long as you are reading I don't think it matters. I read both fiction and non-fiction, and I find both pleasurable and beneficial in their own way. It's really a case of "to each their own".

[@jeaugust]

I’d be really curious to know how “nonfiction” was defined in these studies. Like, if you’re reading a bunch of memoirs, do the same parts of your brain light up as in fiction? I would assume so. So then is the benefit from reading narrative rather than fiction/non-fiction? That would be my guess, but it would be fascinating to see data about that.

[@somethingbambi875]

I wonder to. I lately hear so many that don't want to read anything that isn't "real" and only read biographies for example. Seems like so many is allergic or scared of the "made up". I Love a good biography but that doesn't make a fiction novel less "real". What I write about often feels more real somehow than my own "real life experiences". I don't know what it is all about. Glad being raised with a fiction loving mother, that also at the same hand has a lot of helping books as she is well educated in both psycologi and social behaviors, don't know it all. Love to go to her "library" both for fiction or self helps books or more scientifics.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

@@somethingbambi875 One really healthy way to think about this and helps in a debate is "Any thing that exists for REAL in our Social World (The world created by humans) was thought up in the mind before it was later created etc.

[@Merdragoon]

It’s very true that fiction can help process what you’ve gone through and actually learn better understanding of you as a person. I also notice that if a person is reading a fiction of something they think they understand how it works, but when they read something that is actually accurate (S*xual Trauma or the traumatic processing overall), they think it’s a hyperbole. A good example of this for me is Deer Skin by Robin McKinley. It focuses on trauma in maybe two to three forms, I have seen people process one of the traumatic experiences similar to the main characters (and the author did a wonderful job making a good example how everyone would forget about her when she was younger by focusing on two chapters of the parent’s obsession with each other), but I have experienced the other type of trauma (just without the family part). Most people who read it hear that it’s used to help people with processing trauma and they read it and don’t understand how that is how someone processes it. Going through the emotions of being worthless or actually feeling afraid of people touching you does happen when things happen. I think that’s what happened with Pet Semetary. Not many people quite understood that it wasn’t about it being “scary” for you, but more that it helped you process your own grief and learned the other perspective and how dangerous it could be if you just let it rule your life.

[@drakesmith471]

Little story of mine. For context, I’m a 21 year old male. I got diagnosed at 20 for being autistic. Still feels a little weird to say, but it explains a lot. So as a child, I was very science oriented. I still am. I learned how to read effectively a year later than my peers, but when I did learn, I stuck almost exclusively to nonfiction. A teacher at my elementary school, one I didn’t like, happened to be in the library during the time we were allowed to pick up books. She asked me to show her my selections just out of curiosity for what I and other students liked reading. Mine were about whales and planets. She asked me “why don’t you have any fiction books?” My response was “why would I have any interest in reading something that’s made up if I’m going to read?” She forced me to get a book, and so I chose to read one of the books I’d been read to at story time. That was Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. I didn’t like that teacher, and if I met her today I’d still probably feel eh, but I am grateful for her doing that. I began to read fiction all the time and I fell in love with stories. Granted, I loved movies and shows, but before that day in the library I’d not viewed movies and stories two different manifestations of the same kind of thing. I did read a lot for years, and would bring books with my everywhere. I fell out of reading as much a few years back, but I still do love a good fiction read. I’m an engineering student now, and one who outside of studying doesn’t divide his time up well. So reading fiction is something I don’t do a whole lot of. That said, I still do love it. My 18 yr old brother on the other hand doesn’t like reading at all really. Maybe he’ll see the light someday. Lol. If anyone has any suggestions on how I could encourage him, then I’m all ears. 👀

[@kevinbrazee3778]

Thank you very much for the insight. As someone who has read a lot of non-fiction (technical actuarial papers) and just started reading fiction I find this very timely. I have not studied technical papers in awhile but find that reading fantasy has helped clear my mind and allowed me to be better able to handle my daily workload. Thank you again!!!

[@roxanne878]

These videos are so great and so much fun! I hope you make more of them in the future :) Also as much as I love movies, I've realized that reading is like 200% more relaxing than watching TV...since I stopped binge watching Netflix and started reading so much more, my anxiety has been soooooo much better. Reading is such an underrated stress & anxiety relief and most people don't even realize how relaxing it truly is.

[@seanaugust]

Just dropping a +1 to the people who just finished The Lies of Locke Lamora thanks to you and loved it. Excited to pick up the rest of the series.

[@HyDrOpYrO777]

I gotta read The Republic of Thieves.

[@36moshpit7]

Fiction's done wonders for my love of acting, association abilities, and ultimately, ambition; reading books like World War Z, for example, gave me a glimpse into the heads of soldiers, government officials, and a lot of other people. I'm a conglomeration of ideals and possibilities sparked by all the fiction I've read, and I suspect life would feel a lot more limited without all those different perspectives.

[@franciscobuenrostro3891]

Reading anything is beneficial. To each their own. If they only read non fiction then good. I enjoy fiction and sticking to that

[@eureka5635]

Fiction has made me more empathic and has got me interested in economics, history, sociology and a bunch of other stuff. It's also made me become a writer, without fiction I would not be the same person I am today.

[@molliee5183]

So excited to watch this video! I remember seeing a video title something like "Is reading fiction worth it?" (from a productivity youtuber) and I just thought... How sad to question if enjoying something in your life is worth it. If reading fiction brings joy to you it's worth that alone. That being said I'm excited to hear some more sciency reasons it's "worth it"!

[@sidclauwers5945]

Honestly this video may actually help me a lot because I have some mental issues and value and it being worth it is drilled into me so when I'm in a bad mindspace like now this might have given me some fuel to prioritize reading more again for a while to see how it helps lower my stress and if it works I can finally justify reading because I enjoy it even if I am struggling in my life and should be doing a lot more other things or more practical future related things even though I'm reaching that point of stress where I usually try to unalive myself to wake me up or see if I still care or just how much pain it takes for me to calm down which I am aware is unhealthy but, sorry I should stop going into a negative feedback loop which will get worse if I keep going with this. I am very sorry and have a nice day.

[@dash4800]

I don't think the human race would have made it very far without fiction. Fiction is what expands our imagination and pushes us to think outside of our daily existence. We tell stories to teach lessons without having to experience the grief first hand. To postulate about ideas that are beyond our current understanding. To inspire people to pursue life paths that might othereise have never occured to them. I would guess that almost every person who has accomplished somthing of significance for humanity was personally influenced by a fictional story or character.

[@NagendraBisht7]

Reading makes me want to explore the world that I have not seen and experienced. This month reading fiction books from Middle east, Sri lanka, Georgia,, and South africa. Great video

[@sorel7342]

That’s very cool and in a way could be a more immersive experience of that place than going there as a tourist. This is something I’ve realised recently, that my feelings on travel have really changed (maybe I’m getting old or it’s cos of lockdowns I dunno) but the things I want to get out of travelling somewhere aren’t actually compatible with being a tourist there for a few weeks. Like I’d want to understand that culture and what it’s like to live there but most places you go as a tourist you try to cram in as much as possible (understandably!), see the things you’ve heard of and can tell others about, buy a few things as a keepsake and snap some good pics and come home. For me there’s a safety dimension to this too.. as a woman Im not sure I’d be safe to nomadically wander around other countries learning from the people I meet even though that was always my idealised view of travel. The only reason I can do that more in my own local area is because I know the place well enough! So.. sorry.. what I was saying is that to me books and fiction are some of the best ways to immerse myself in a place, to learn about the culture and also emotionally engage with that. Plus in books you can time travel too.

[@Logan24855]

I’ve been reading a lot of nonfiction books in the last three years but lately I’ve been thinking of getting back into reading my Lord Of The Rings, Wing Commander, MYST books that I initially bought but never finished. I’ve been lately reading more on dogs, cars, weightlifting, etc but I remember when I was reading my fiction books back in high school that I enjoyed them so much it’s as if time passed seamlessly. I even lost 10 lbs one summer by just reading and drinking water. Entertaining the thought of getting back into fiction reading but not quitting on my nonfiction/self-development books.

[@GreatOldOne9866]

Some of my friends don’t like fiction, but on the bright side, they leave me alone.

[@someguyspage1809]

You want them to leave you alone because they don’t like fiction? That’s some kind of friendship.

[@GreatOldOne9866]

@@someguyspage1809 they leave me alone when it comes to my interests and how I entertain myself. Everything else, we get along fine.

[@MunitionsDudTester]

I needed this. Ever since I learned how to read I read A LOT until I turned 18. When I was about 6 or 7 my mother had to stop letting me look up things for school-work in the encyclopedia because I would crack it open and just start reading my way through it as I slowly got to whatever it was I was looking for. I almost exclusively read fiction from 8 years old onwards and I read anything and everything even if it was above my age level. Our English class in high school took a reading comprehension test and I had a graduate reading level... as a 10th-grader, so the benefits of reading fiction are very very real. I read much less now than I used to but for some reason I now view fiction as "kids stuff" and I feel like I'm wasting my time if I'm not reading non-fiction or something educational. This video was a wake-up call that it is okay to indulge now and then and you'll still benefit from it.

[@mariamizhys3089]

Thank you SO much for this video and research! I do feel better about spending a lot of my time listening to fantasies, especially since I did notice some of the benefits you’ve mentioned, I just never connected my developments to reading fiction. One thing you said stuck out for me and reminded me of a Russian author I love. His name (or pseudonym actually) is Boris Akunin and he is best known for a series of detective novels set in the late 19th - early 20th century Russian Empire. He had another big project later on, and I’ll just quote from Wikipedia here because its summed up pretty well there: “History of the Russian State (История Российского государства). A series of non-fiction books documenting the history of Russia from the 9th century to 1917, complemented by a series of fictional works.” For instance, the first pair of books about the first period he chose is: - A Part of Europe - From the beginnings to the Mongol Conquest (2013). History of Russian statehood from its beginnings (9th century) up to the Mongol Conquest (early 13th century). - The Fiery Finger (2013). Three historical novellas set between the 9th and 13th centuries: The Fiery Finger (the adventures of a Byzantine spy in the Slavic lands in 856 AD), The Devil's Spittle (political games at the court of Yaroslav the Wise in 1050), and Prince Cranberry (about a young ruler of a tiny duchy, located dangerously close to the Wild Steppe, in 1205). I loved the concept when I first encountered it because it really helped history to come to life. It was so much more immersive this way and consequently much more memorable. In my opinion, it’s the perfect way to learn about history.

[@ashlavanadis]

Fiction is wonderful. A playground for how to examine solutions to tough problems. Also it's ok to enjoy things. 💚

[@pistaalkohol]

The strees one reminded me of a Strange Planet comic: Alien one enters: You appaer to be furious. Alien two, while reading a book: I am. Alien two looks up from the book: I'm enranged by a being in this narrative. Aline one asks: An actual being? Alien two: This being is fictional. My anger is real. Alien two continues reading: This is how I relax. Alien one: Ok.

[@partikkumawat4989]

Stories are not just mere play of words and imagination, it is a painting of reality on to the walls of our heart and soul, that will remain unchanged untill the day we die. Even if the whole world leaves you, those stories, those characters will remain by your side.

[@Ollyjohnson]

One Piece alone has undone 10 years of emotional jading, (binged since June) Terry Pratchett articulated more to me about people and society than any civics class I was ever in. those are just 2 examples. fiction has given me so much that I couldn't imagine who I'd be without it

[@benjaminroe311ify]

One Piece, and many other Manga/ Anime are amazing humanistic stories with all kinds of messages that can enrich us as humans.

[@andybarker8787]

Pet semetary is a fantastic reflection on grief. What it lacks in shock scares it hugely compensates for in bleak creeping terror. Awesome book.

[@ErikaLM10]

I appreciate that this video is based on studies and not baseless claims

[@AlyseNicoleO]

I've found another level of KZbin. Anyone reading any book is always a "wow" for me.

[@TaraSwiger1]

I loooove these nerdy studies! Yes! Thank you!

[@LeeRichardson808]

Thanks for this video. I went a long time, not reading much, thinking that fiction was somehow less valuable or productive than non fiction. Now I would say whatever gets you interested and excited to read is what you should be reading!!

[@schntgaispock5878]

Non-fiction enriches us with real-world knowledge, but fiction uniquely stimulates our imagination and vocabulary. It's not merely entertainment; it's a way to explore complex emotions, ethical dilemmas, and human experiences, enhancing empathy and creativity. Balancing both fiction and non-fiction is beneficial, fostering a well-rounded intellect.

[@theonlyslagathor]

I too felt seen by the ending song. It hit me. Right in the feel. (*Points at stomach*) right there.

[@merphynapier42]

it explores some real complex emotions 🦖🦕

[@Thetrilingualreader]

Reading fiction literally helped me (partially) realize i am autistic. I realized how much emotional and social cues i am missing, and was clueless about missing. How neurotypicals don't hyperfixate on things like we do, especially things that bother them, how they process romantic, platonic, negative and positive feelings differently... it also helps me emotionally regulate.

[@matthewhaynes509]

Merphy: I’m a nerd Us: oh we’ve known that for a bit now

[@bianx24]

Fiction stories have shown me so much more than what my eyes can see

[@LarryHasOpinions]

great vid, i fully agree with your point, i never really understood the whole rivalry thing (which goes both ways btw, i've seen quite often fiction readers dismissing non-fiction as well...)

[@ignskeletons]

I'm 27 and never read books before, I almost exclusively read fiction (Vampires, Sci-Fi, Medieval Fantasy, etc.) and could care less what others think. I'm still doing better than the mass majority who don't read books at all.

[@stephenphillips6245]

Fiction helps memory and imagination development.

[@richardhildreth4471]

Thank you, from a fellow need. When I came home from school one day only 3 months or so one day and scared my mother with a note from my teacher. It said, "Take this boy to the library!" Thank you, Miss Tilden for teaching me how to read. ❤️

[@o_o-lj1ym]

So...neurologically I’ve used a Shardblade? This is so cool!

[@warrenbradford2597]

Not to mention reading fiction can help improve your imagination. That's important to not only to create fiction yourself, but art in general.

[@LastMinuteGuess]

Hmmm, reading fiction significantly increases empathy...is this why I cry more as an adult than I did as a child!? I read too much. I have too many fictional characters I have loved. I'll cry over anything.

[@lyndonlives638]

Great video! I find reading fiction is such an antidote to all the terrible excesses of social media. Two years ago I inherited a wonderful big library from my late mother who was a very good English teacher. I pledged to read more and started by mostly just reading non-fiction, but when I made a deliberate effort to focus on fiction I immediately felt my life even more enriched, with an even greater sense of calm and wellbeing!

[@noone9472]

It’s funny to me that it is like that in the English speaking world, in France it’s the opposite, non fiction and especially self help books are seen very negatively and seen as fake when littérature is seen as true reading and is very respected (It’s not as true when we talk about books that aren’t classics but that’s a whole separate issue haha)

[@reyne8424]

Starting to read fiction again after not having read in over 10 years has helped me cure the burnout I had during my early twenties. I grew up in a family that reads a lot, so I was born into it, but it took knowing the difference between what movies/series do to an exhausted brain vs what reading a book does. There is no better way to look into the details of someones experience than reading about it in all the detail that person's brain uses to describe it.

[@tmann986]

“Oh you read? What book are you reading rn” , ‘oh its an audio book’ , “that’s not reading…” I’ve heard this many times before too haha

[@dash4800]

I mean, it's not. It's listening. Which is fine, but it's not reading. By definition.

[@GremlinBones]

I had no idea anyone thought nonfiction was better than fiction. The fact that reading fiction helps build empathy explains a lot about me and my life. Especially in recent years, since I haven't truly read anything in years. Every time I start to read again, I never finish. I really want to work towards fixing that in myself. I love you and Daniel Greene's videos. Your energy and passion for books reminds me how much I do still love books, even though I don't read them much anymore. I still continue to buy them thanks to you guys.

[@madmax-fg4lt]

The One Piece is real

[@gracerodhouse2695]

it’s so much easier for me to envision things in my mind as well!! when people are describing scenarios or teachers were explaining real life problems out loud, i always understood them better because i could imagine the exact scenario in my head 😌

[@Skjbell]

Love that Ninja Sex Party ref at the end! Hahaha!

[@cedargrace]

Thank you Gonna read “pet cemetery” now to help process the grief of losing my dad and my dog ❤️

[@parrotsontheplateau3488]

Oh yes... That beginning could be a family member of mine cough cough mother. Her favorite thing to say was " rotting your brain* and *not experiencing the real world* Funny thing was that my family was pretty much against reading in general because it wasted time. Even non-fiction. There was a religious element thrown in there as well, unfortunately it didn't mix well with an already dysfunctional family. Books taught me empathy and that there was hope that things could be different one day. My husband introduced me to Lord of the Rings and it changed my life in the way I see books now. Before I read them in private and with embarrassment if they were fictional, not any more! Now I'm attacking Brandon Sanderson's books and Wheel of Time and loving them!

[@marocat4749]

Sounds, in that case it was probably good escapatism, and seriously , religious people should never shame fictional books, becaue well, as religion isnt escapadism. With respect to religious people, most liely dont have a problem and are . Good youhad an anquer. Good you came somewhat ok out.

[@parrotsontheplateau3488]

I should make it clear that I in no way have anything against religion or spirituality. I am a believer in Christ. My family just took certain aspects of the denomination that we belonged to and ran with it.

[@parrotsontheplateau3488]

@marocat it definitely was escapism for my family. I've never thought of it that way!

[@iceprism367]

9:46 I love what you said here about horror not needing to be excessively scary to move you. I haven't read this book in particular, but I do like certain types of horror and my brother has questioned me before about why someone would watch horror since it's not actually real and therefore he sees it as not scary. The way I see it I don't really seek horror to be scared of it. I usually want to think about the interesting concepts it presents. Fear is just the momentary reaction you get from it, but when horror is good you can end up contemplating what it means for weeks. Plus the genre name isn't "fear" so why should that be the only expectation of it. I think horror should linger and confuse your brain a bit sometimes as you wonder why you were afraid of it in the first place.

[@ToriWoof]

If reading fiction makes you stupid then I'm stupid because I love fiction

[@kevinharrison3265]

As a lifelong reader age 62, I'm not sure how you can get non readers to read. It's a kind addiction causing no harm to self or others. Needing quiet and solitude, rare in this increasingly noisy world.👍❤️

[@christinam81]

Oops, it should be *affects*

[@wayward773]

I m genuinely impressed i can never tell the difference lol

[@sierradeltaNL]

Quite an ironic title hahah

[@vastava]

hope she catches that soon LOL

[@meatbleed]

@@wayward773 same here. I'll be like "that should be affects" at first glance then start doubting myself and look it up to be sure.

[@dylanoshea9647]

@@wayward773 I think generally effects is a noun while affects is a verb. I think there are some exceptions though

[@jr0dmusik]

I’m not a scientist, but I’m pretty sure reading ANYTHING is good for your brain-improves memory, reduces risk of dementia, and overall just works your left brain. My New Year’s resolution is to read more, and this video really encouraged me!

[@MegaChoupidou]

Ironically, it’s ‘affects’.

[@NiallsSongs]

Effectively that's ironic.

[@emmjaygames]

Great breakdown! Where the literature is not so clear is on the benefits of engaging with stories through non-reading methods (video games, movies, tv shows, etc etc), but I really hope to see that change in the future. The reading literature is so powerful that I imagine it isn't that big of a leap to "engaging with fiction stories in general is good for your happiness and your brain (key word- engage, not necessarily consume.)"

[@Ppanos423]

Well to begin with, "fantasy" is a broad term. Shakespeare had fairies and ghosts in his stories and Homer has gods and monsters. Are we to disdain them as fantasy writers? Fantasy is one of the oldest genre in literature. It lets us be creative, to explore and define reality.

[@noname3609]

I love both Homer and Shakespeare but they're not even close to Sanderson level. 😁

[@Ppanos423]

@@noname3609 I also love Shakespeare but Im afraid I have never read Homer.

[@noname3609]

@@Ppanos423 you should,he's the father of antic fantasy along with the story of the hero gilgamesh.😁

[@Ppanos423]

@@noname3609 Oh yeah, I know. The thing is I have read Beowulf and Prometheus Bound, and although I appreceated them, I found reading them to be somekind of a homework, rather than enjoyment. But yeah Homer is a must.

[@noname3609]

@@Ppanos423 Homer is really good,knowing the fact both the illiad and the odyssey were written 2800 years ago.After him I would move into Dante than Goethe 😁

[@SilverScribe85]

You are so right about reading reducing stress, ma'am. Next to listening to music, nothing makes me feel more relaxed and happier than sitting down to read a good story...except maybe WRITING one of my own

[@leogomes993]

Although I believe that reading fiction actually does affect our social-cognitive skills, we must be careful when interpreting research data. Most of the studies you referred to were observational, which means that no matter how impressive the sample size is, their results only show an association between two measures, and have little explanatory power. The correlation we see between social-cognitive skills and fiction reading may appear, for example, because people that are more empathic are also more likely to enjoy reading fiction due to their ability to really connect with characters. That could be an alternative and very plausible explanation for the correlation we see between fiction reading and social-cognitive skills that doesn't rely on reading "causing" high social skills. Again, I also tend to believe that it is the case that reading helps our brains in a myriad of ways. I just think it is important to be scientifically annoying when dealing with research data, because it is very easy to jump into wrong conclusions when we don't take into account things like study design, sampling method, correlation vs. causation, etc.

[@itsnlee]

I never thought of reading as something that benefits the individual until I was older. When I was in high school with no friends, stories were a haven for me, and still is today.

[@laiquende9971]

Was that an NSP video at the end???? Lol

[@78gravedigger]

Certain songs have gotten me so much heartache, but are different to listen to now, because I’m not in that emotional state anymore. But at the time it really helped.

[@nawalin1599]

I am a fiction writer (but not in English, and English is not my first language). I have been reading novels since I was a child and I must admit that novels have given me an advantage over others in terms of language usage. They also make me feel like I have lived many different lives through the characters I have read about. Importantly, I have learned about other human beings through the various characters that authors may have modeled after real people in their lives. This has taught me that someone who appears polite, friendly, and always smiling may actually be harboring malicious thoughts all along. This has made me better at predicting the thoughts and behaviors of others, and has helped me to understand them better. Since becoming a writer myself, I have come to realize that what characters think and say does not always have to be straightforward. There are often multiple layers of meaning and interpretation, which is what makes writing and reading fiction so fascinating.