There's more nuance to this. Drugs or eating Fastfood for example present you with joy shortterm but will make your life miserable longterm, so it's objectively wasted.
@@Enemy93 eating a little fast food won't harm you. And most of the "harmful" things are actually harmless - porn and gaming for example are demonized now but it actually healthy to an extent if not overused. So, there's more sanctimony in the world than harm.
Excellent video, Johan! There are so many great reasons to read fiction: developing empathy, relaxing, learning about different times and places, working out real word issues in fictional worlds, experiencing catharsis, improving your critical thinking and focus, being entertained, and many more. Also, nice cameo for The Prophet of Edan and Return to Edan!
Crafting narrative is one of the most important forms of art in the world. Passing down stories, emotions, and lessons through words is how we teach the next generation. And in order for those things to stay with us, they need character, agency, conflict, and power. Fiction gives all of that. It teaches you empathy. It pulls you out of your own point of view and makes you see another. Fiction can save lives and change others.
I just love a good story... Sometimes that's reading, sometimes it's a movie or a TV show, and other times a video game. As a creative myself, I am a consumer of others' creativity. It not only fills my cup and recharges me, but it provides a means through which I can enhance my own creativity. I lost my way for many years and let myself solely become a consumer. However, this past year I've found the resolve to do both input and output. All that aside, THANK YOU for touching on this topic and I appreciate all you said about it. As with all things, balance is key.
The funny thing about non fiction books that are not considered "time wasting" is, that a lot of them are a big waste of time and resources. Especially in the self improvement genre, there are so many books that sell you one or two ideas that can easily be condensed to a blog post or a youtube essay without losing anything important. The rest of these books is filled with empty words, repetition, unnecessary quotes and anecdotal "evidence" that prove nothing at all. Also, I think toxic productivity culture is so much more problematic than "wasting time".
I agree. If I read non-fiction, I read science and medical journals. I read the studies, find repeats and compare and contrast results. I also like to find alternate theories and studies and compare their results to the original theory. History I read more books, but I try to find reputable authors and also weigh the information to other sources. Self help books I really think most aren't helpful and avoid those. Fiction on the other hand is a respite from reality. It's great to reset the brain. I find fiction is great to exercise my imagination, keep me open minded and flexible to change and ideas, and not to over analyze everything to death. Also it's just fun and that is a good enough purpose for me.
@@gigglingchicken8444 You know what you're talking about. History, especially recent history, is being rewritten. I'd go so far as saying finding a dictionary put together before WWII. A good way to absorb history is in books like The Red Badge of Courage, maybe not the best example, but at least you don't have to read between the lines. Find out a little about the author too before reading history by an academic. And autobiographical memoirs (like Nixon's) are suspect.
I only started reading fiction books again about 2 years ago and while I am someone who never wasted much time on social media, I do less so now. I bring a book everywhere now and read when commuting instead of looking at my phone like everyone else does. I also read more at home and watch less TH-cam and Twitch as well es wasting time on other websites because those never felt satisfying anyway. And like you said, it's also really nice to improve English skills, especially intonation and cadence because I like to read out loud when I'm at home.
I do read some non-fiction but I prefer to let a story transport me. And I do read historical fiction so I learn about things. I remember as a very young girl the teacher going over “vocabulary words” with us. She had us “guess” the meaning first. I knew a lot of the words because I was an avid reader even back then.
It's not that fiction is always a waste of time. It's just that with the way things are in the world, it's really important to read history, for all of the same reasons you're citing, plus more. I wish people would read history along with whatever fiction they're reading.
Someone told me that again not too long ago. I don't get it. I read nonfiction too, but it tends to not stick with me as long and it's rarely as interesting. It also doesn't inspire. Sometimes people say "you should be reading nonfiction to learn things," but I really doubt those people are learning much anyway, judging by the way they talk. Seems like a symptom of western society's ever-increasing movement toward the deprivation of creativity and imagination. If I was left to only read nonfiction, I don't think I would be reading very much. People seem to lack thoughtfulness sometimes - creative works tie back to the media literacy that is increasingly lacking in society. It forces you to think of new things and the way everything works rather than just seeing the facts of someone's life reiterated through a lens or reading instructional manuals or whatnot. This discussion actually reminds me of another disappointing interaction I had recently discussing video games. Like people couldn't understand why someone might want a story-focused, plot-driven experience instead of an open world filled with aimless mechanics to mess around with. Because I'm immersing myself in someone else's vision rather than doing random things for the sake of doing them.
yeah, it's an illusion of learning. I collect MATH books lol. And to learn something from even ONE of them - I literally sit and solve problems for 3 hours a day whole month or two. Then I can confidently say that I've done the book. Reading those successful-success blog posts (I can't call those books other than an unproportionally long blog post) teach you nothing, it's a scam. Yes, there are some interesting nonfic books, but then, it's not better than fiction. There's no hierarchy of books. Fiction can and often does more likely change your life
I wonder what kind of nonfiction you and those people you're talking to are reading. If it's self-help books you're talking about, then I agree, but that's only a portion of all nonfiction. I do think both fiction and nonfiction can teach. However, I do like to read to learn, and my favorite subject is history.
I disagree with your last point about becoming more analytical and being able to describe better why plot/themes/tropes didn't work well, or did in fact work well. I think that that is rather a consequence of you focusing so much on book reviewing and providing quality content, rather than simply reading. One just needs to head over to Goodreads to find plenty of arguments as to why it doesn't hold up (and I include myself in that as well, despite reading for years I would never be able to articulate my thoughts as well as you or Petrik, two non native English reviewers).
You could also read both. My fiction addiction supports my non-fiction reading to give me something light to switch too when the nonfiction gets too heavy. I also will add lighter books if the fiction is getting too heavy, too. It can be good to have balance
Reading, often times, is waaaayyyyyy better than television....most everything on TV these days is absolute garbage. My reading time has "almost" completely replaced any TV time I used to have.
Great video. I tjink we dont have to justify why we read fiction. Even if was just a pleasurable activitie witouth the other advantages. About stress, i think is what saved me from burnout on my previous really stressfull job. After stress i think one huge advantage if fiction was critical thinking. In books i meet so much people, in so many morality spectrums and believes, that i can choose my one. A litle but like in my life that i born in a hardcore religious family, but since i was a reader since a kid, really fast i saw another possibilities
Reading changes you,you become a better person so there is no way its a waste of time if you read what you enjoy ! :) What remains are the memories of what you have read ! :D
this is not fair - at all. there are lots of people that read a LOT of non fiction. I also believe reading fiction is wonderful. I read a fair bit as well.
I don’t judge how people spend their free time. As long as you are enjoying how you spend your free time then it’s not wasted. I do lean more on fiction but I also enjoy learning about history so most of non fiction I read are history books and autobiographies
I have learned from fiction in the past, due to author's research they have used to craft their novels. As a child, I learned new words, how to spell them, good grammar, and even some history and geography. Today's literature, however, is not as carefully written. The grammar and spelling mistakes are numerous; as a simple person with only a 12th-grade education, I am appalled at the apparent lack of proofreading. As a result, I no longer trust that any part of the novels are correct, and simply enjoy what I can of the story. With that said, I still read between 150-200 books per year.
It seems to me that anyone "judging" you for reading fiction is feeling inadequate and needing to find something to feel superior about; reading is for more than just acquiring knowledge, it is about the enjoyment of the act. I have a very demanding, intellectually stressful job and reading fantasy & science fiction is a way for me to decompress and let my brain relax.
I think, there is nothing you can't do with your life. There is no any rules or predefined values, no morals, no priorities outside of a human. So, considering you aren't doing any physical harm to other people and not breaking any law (if this law has common sense, hi from Russia by the way, it's not always the case here) - you can spend your time whatever you like. There's no difference from the point of an individual - whether you watch tiktok, read books, learning math or working like unhealthy horse. Every activity has exactly the same amount of value outside of human person and his close group - zero. And it can have whole Universe of value and meaning to this particular person and society he decided to be in (readers of fantasy for example). So, let them - it's only their vanity and indecisiveness. they just frightened what if their lives isn't productive enough. It's simply fear induced by current media - what if my hobbies and values aren't productive enough? What if I'm missing something? I personally going to read my eyes off, or study math. Its my life, I don't owe anybody anything. And most importantly - I will do my silly things with full immersion, I fear nothing. They will proceed to ruin their lives by choosing activities that don't have heart for them, but they're "productive", it's their fear, not mine. Cheers to all the readers!
This quote from Bradbury sums it up me "Fiction gives us empathy: It puts us inside the minds of other people, gives us the gift of seeing through their eyes. Fiction is a lie that tells us true things, over and over."
In other words, (rephrasing my comment below), everything is worth the time if you choose to do that. Everything is unproductive and silly, and it's libearting. There's no need to cook up reasons why reading fiction is worth it - by defining reasons we devalue it. Because it's worth much higher than it's possible to describe, but it's subjective, so, it won't convince anybody. (but I like such videos anyway)
I don't even know the difference between fiction and non-fiction, bro. Everything is fiction unless it's an autobiography or something. Or do you mean fantasy? Fantasy is extremely boring on account of its endlessly repeated tired tropes. Fiction is fun.
Reading modern fiction is a waste of time, unless you have finished the classics already. Sadly, most adults are still reading young adult books written for 12 year-olds.
Hard disagree…I don’t think you need to read the “classics” first before reading anything else. Tbh that would turn loads of ppl off reading in general
I prefer reading than be stuck in social media ! I deleted my FB account because I rarely go on it! I only have instagram and Snapchat ! I only have instagram cuz I love to follow my favorite artists and movie stars also, my booktubers ❤ !
Nothing that gives you joy is a waste of time.
Exactly what I wanted to say with my long text but shorter
There's more nuance to this. Drugs or eating Fastfood for example present you with joy shortterm but will make your life miserable longterm, so it's objectively wasted.
@@Enemy93 eating a little fast food won't harm you. And most of the "harmful" things are actually harmless - porn and gaming for example are demonized now but it actually healthy to an extent if not overused.
So, there's more sanctimony in the world than harm.
Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.
You didn't say anything about drugs though
Excellent video, Johan! There are so many great reasons to read fiction: developing empathy, relaxing, learning about different times and places, working out real word issues in fictional worlds, experiencing catharsis, improving your critical thinking and focus, being entertained, and many more. Also, nice cameo for The Prophet of Edan and Return to Edan!
Absolutely! Your channel has definitely helped me see the value in literature more so thank you for that!
Crafting narrative is one of the most important forms of art in the world. Passing down stories, emotions, and lessons through words is how we teach the next generation. And in order for those things to stay with us, they need character, agency, conflict, and power. Fiction gives all of that. It teaches you empathy. It pulls you out of your own point of view and makes you see another. Fiction can save lives and change others.
They don't need conflict.
I just love a good story... Sometimes that's reading, sometimes it's a movie or a TV show, and other times a video game. As a creative myself, I am a consumer of others' creativity. It not only fills my cup and recharges me, but it provides a means through which I can enhance my own creativity. I lost my way for many years and let myself solely become a consumer. However, this past year I've found the resolve to do both input and output. All that aside, THANK YOU for touching on this topic and I appreciate all you said about it. As with all things, balance is key.
For me reading is hobby also gets you out of this world for a bit….. just gives u happiness. Thanks for the video 📼🎥📽️
The funny thing about non fiction books that are not considered "time wasting" is, that a lot of them are a big waste of time and resources. Especially in the self improvement genre, there are so many books that sell you one or two ideas that can easily be condensed to a blog post or a youtube essay without losing anything important. The rest of these books is filled with empty words, repetition, unnecessary quotes and anecdotal "evidence" that prove nothing at all.
Also, I think toxic productivity culture is so much more problematic than "wasting time".
Yes🎉
I agree. If I read non-fiction, I read science and medical journals. I read the studies, find repeats and compare and contrast results. I also like to find alternate theories and studies and compare their results to the original theory.
History I read more books, but I try to find reputable authors and also weigh the information to other sources.
Self help books I really think most aren't helpful and avoid those.
Fiction on the other hand is a respite from reality. It's great to reset the brain. I find fiction is great to exercise my imagination, keep me open minded and flexible to change and ideas, and not to over analyze everything to death. Also it's just fun and that is a good enough purpose for me.
@@gigglingchicken8444 You know what you're talking about. History, especially recent history, is being rewritten. I'd go so far as saying finding a dictionary put together before WWII. A good way to absorb history is in books like The Red Badge of Courage, maybe not the best example, but at least you don't have to read between the lines. Find out a little about the author too before reading history by an academic. And autobiographical memoirs (like Nixon's) are suspect.
I only started reading fiction books again about 2 years ago and while I am someone who never wasted much time on social media, I do less so now. I bring a book everywhere now and read when commuting instead of looking at my phone like everyone else does. I also read more at home and watch less TH-cam and Twitch as well es wasting time on other websites because those never felt satisfying anyway. And like you said, it's also really nice to improve English skills, especially intonation and cadence because I like to read out loud when I'm at home.
Dude I would have never guessed English was not your first language! Awesome as always.
Great subject! Whether in response to criticism or not, just knowing that what I enjoy is good for me is comforting!
I played Fifa for 30 years and still think it's time well spent
Nowadays I love to read Fantasy and scifi because there is nothing interesting on TV.
I do read some non-fiction but I prefer to let a story transport me. And I do read historical fiction so I learn about things. I remember as a very young girl the teacher going over “vocabulary words” with us. She had us “guess” the meaning first. I knew a lot of the words because I was an avid reader even back then.
It's not that fiction is always a waste of time. It's just that with the way things are in the world, it's really important to read history, for all of the same reasons you're citing, plus more. I wish people would read history along with whatever fiction they're reading.
Someone told me that again not too long ago. I don't get it.
I read nonfiction too, but it tends to not stick with me as long and it's rarely as interesting. It also doesn't inspire. Sometimes people say "you should be reading nonfiction to learn things," but I really doubt those people are learning much anyway, judging by the way they talk.
Seems like a symptom of western society's ever-increasing movement toward the deprivation of creativity and imagination. If I was left to only read nonfiction, I don't think I would be reading very much. People seem to lack thoughtfulness sometimes - creative works tie back to the media literacy that is increasingly lacking in society. It forces you to think of new things and the way everything works rather than just seeing the facts of someone's life reiterated through a lens or reading instructional manuals or whatnot.
This discussion actually reminds me of another disappointing interaction I had recently discussing video games. Like people couldn't understand why someone might want a story-focused, plot-driven experience instead of an open world filled with aimless mechanics to mess around with. Because I'm immersing myself in someone else's vision rather than doing random things for the sake of doing them.
yeah, it's an illusion of learning. I collect MATH books lol. And to learn something from even ONE of them - I literally sit and solve problems for 3 hours a day whole month or two. Then I can confidently say that I've done the book. Reading those successful-success blog posts (I can't call those books other than an unproportionally long blog post) teach you nothing, it's a scam. Yes, there are some interesting nonfic books, but then, it's not better than fiction. There's no hierarchy of books. Fiction can and often does more likely change your life
Indeed I like ocarina of time över gta
I wonder what kind of nonfiction you and those people you're talking to are reading. If it's self-help books you're talking about, then I agree, but that's only a portion of all nonfiction. I do think both fiction and nonfiction can teach. However, I do like to read to learn, and my favorite subject is history.
I disagree with your last point about becoming more analytical and being able to describe better why plot/themes/tropes didn't work well, or did in fact work well. I think that that is rather a consequence of you focusing so much on book reviewing and providing quality content, rather than simply reading. One just needs to head over to Goodreads to find plenty of arguments as to why it doesn't hold up (and I include myself in that as well, despite reading for years I would never be able to articulate my thoughts as well as you or Petrik, two non native English reviewers).
You could also read both. My fiction addiction supports my non-fiction reading to give me something light to switch too when the nonfiction gets too heavy. I also will add lighter books if the fiction is getting too heavy, too. It can be good to have balance
Reading, often times, is waaaayyyyyy better than television....most everything on TV these days is absolute garbage. My reading time has "almost" completely replaced any TV time I used to have.
I like reading more than watching TV. There are still some good shows though. Most recent for me is Shogun which is well done.
Loved the video. Just subscribed and starting poppy war tonight based on your recommendations from previous videos 😎
Great video. I tjink we dont have to justify why we read fiction. Even if was just a pleasurable activitie witouth the other advantages.
About stress, i think is what saved me from burnout on my previous really stressfull job.
After stress i think one huge advantage if fiction was critical thinking. In books i meet so much people, in so many morality spectrums and believes, that i can choose my one. A litle but like in my life that i born in a hardcore religious family, but since i was a reader since a kid, really fast i saw another possibilities
i always read 1 fiction and 1 nonfiction book simultaneously.
I do that as well.
Why not😊
Great video!
I'm showing this to my ninth graders. Great video, Johann!
What an honour!
Where can I find that edition of the Dragonbone Chair.
Reading changes you,you become a better person so there is no way its a waste of time if you read what you enjoy ! :)
What remains are the memories of what you have read ! :D
Reading is the equivalent to thinking with someone else’s head instead of with one’s own-Arthur Schopenhauer. Fiction opens up the world!
this is not fair - at all. there are lots of people that read a LOT of non fiction. I also believe reading fiction is wonderful. I read a fair bit as well.
I don’t judge how people spend their free time. As long as you are enjoying how you spend your free time then it’s not wasted. I do lean more on fiction but I also enjoy learning about history so most of non fiction I read are history books and autobiographies
I may have 300 westerns and other books. I love to read it's so relaxing to me.
Can you tell me what your reading speed is? I am curious how fast you read in English
I never knew English was not your first language. It's impressive how much command you have over your 3rd language.
I have learned from fiction in the past, due to author's research they have used to craft their novels. As a child, I learned new words, how to spell them, good grammar, and even some history and geography. Today's literature, however, is not as carefully written. The grammar and spelling mistakes are numerous; as a simple person with only a 12th-grade education, I am appalled at the apparent lack of proofreading. As a result, I no longer trust that any part of the novels are correct, and simply enjoy what I can of the story. With that said, I still read between 150-200 books per year.
It seems to me that anyone "judging" you for reading fiction is feeling inadequate and needing to find something to feel superior about; reading is for more than just acquiring knowledge, it is about the enjoyment of the act. I have a very demanding, intellectually stressful job and reading fantasy & science fiction is a way for me to decompress and let my brain relax.
People who don't read fiction have low empathy.
I think, there is nothing you can't do with your life. There is no any rules or predefined values, no morals, no priorities outside of a human. So, considering you aren't doing any physical harm to other people and not breaking any law (if this law has common sense, hi from Russia by the way, it's not always the case here) - you can spend your time whatever you like.
There's no difference from the point of an individual - whether you watch tiktok, read books, learning math or working like unhealthy horse. Every activity has exactly the same amount of value outside of human person and his close group - zero. And it can have whole Universe of value and meaning to this particular person and society he decided to be in (readers of fantasy for example).
So, let them - it's only their vanity and indecisiveness. they just frightened what if their lives isn't productive enough. It's simply fear induced by current media - what if my hobbies and values aren't productive enough? What if I'm missing something?
I personally going to read my eyes off, or study math. Its my life, I don't owe anybody anything. And most importantly - I will do my silly things with full immersion, I fear nothing. They will proceed to ruin their lives by choosing activities that don't have heart for them, but they're "productive", it's their fear, not mine.
Cheers to all the readers!
It's definitely the fastest way to improve your own English writing.
This quote from Bradbury sums it up me
"Fiction gives us empathy: It puts us inside the minds of other people, gives us the gift of seeing through their eyes. Fiction is a lie that tells us true things, over and over."
what movie is better than the book?
I read fiction because I don't have friends and also people around me don't read anything but newspapers
In other words, (rephrasing my comment below), everything is worth the time if you choose to do that. Everything is unproductive and silly, and it's libearting. There's no need to cook up reasons why reading fiction is worth it - by defining reasons we devalue it. Because it's worth much higher than it's possible to describe, but it's subjective, so, it won't convince anybody.
(but I like such videos anyway)
Hi! what do you think about digital books and comics? are they better than paper one?
Both are great! All comes to down to your preference!
@@libraryofaviking do you think digital will never overcome paper?
"Serendipity" is exaggerating?? Oh, buddy
Every activity is better than church.
Yeah I read more nonfiction books achieving two liberal arts degrees than I can ever match in a lifetime of fiction 🤪
Read what makes you happy 😊
me who spends a lot of time reading fiction AND watching tik tok lol
Don't get me wrong - I do as well haha!
I don't even know the difference between fiction and non-fiction, bro. Everything is fiction unless it's an autobiography or something. Or do you mean fantasy? Fantasy is extremely boring on account of its endlessly repeated tired tropes. Fiction is fun.
Reading modern fiction is a waste of time, unless you have finished the classics already. Sadly, most adults are still reading young adult books written for 12 year-olds.
Hard disagree…I don’t think you need to read the “classics” first before reading anything else. Tbh that would turn loads of ppl off reading in general
I prefer reading than be stuck in social media ! I deleted my FB account because I rarely go on it! I only have instagram and Snapchat ! I only have instagram cuz I love to follow my favorite artists and movie stars also, my booktubers ❤ !