scroll2b

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum, since it's the first or second time I've visited this area of dvdtalk in a long time, but I wondered about the feedback I would get if this was directed at everyone here. I don't really like to pick up fiction books. I find myself immensely attracted to biographies about filmmakers and actors that I admire. (I'm a student filmmaker.) I'll read them fast, but I don't find myself attracted to fiction works. I also can't get enough of reading the news everyday. (I can't stand watching it on TV, though.)

What do you think that says about me, or my education, class, etc? I'm really interested to know. Have there been studies about this? I'm not asking for a bell-curve type of thing, but I have to wonder.... Then again, if this is just a phase I'm going through (and everyone likes fiction), has anyone else gone through this? I'm 23yrs old and it's been like this since middle school. Did anyone just stop reading fiction and then resume again after a long period of time? Thanks.

gp98

I think that most people go through phases where they have a certain focus and some people stick with that focus. Some people see fiction as a "what's the point?" genre. Why read a story that's made up when there's a true story just as good?

I also think that you can get caught in a perpetual loop: if you don't read any fiction, how are you going to find fiction that interests you?

Geofferson

Another thing to take note of is escapism. Not that non-fiction can't provide that, but fiction can practically 100% of the time. Much of the reason for entertainment media in general - whether it be TV or books - is for entertainment and to escape from reality, if even for just a short while. In that regard, I am an avid fiction and non-fiction reader.

I too like to keep up on the news and because of that, I need a bit of escapism every once in a while.

lucasorion

I've gone through long phases of not reading non-fiction, but never fiction. I guess it has to do with where you put yourself on the spectrum between love of imagination and love of knowledge. Not that the two are really opposites, but that you can choose to focus on one more than the other, or strike a balance. Einstein once said that "Imagination is more important than knowledge", and I try to live by that by stimulating my imagination a little bit more than reading the science, history, and political books that are out there - though I am very interested in all those subjects.

Now that I think about it, if I am on a fiction streak, I may balance it out by unconsciously paying more attention to news sources on tv, in magazines, and on the internet.

scroll2b

Cool. Thanks for your comments everyone. I thought I was going to be flamed big time, but it's good hearing your honest opinions. I might take a little dippage into fiction pretty soon.

Jeraden

I'm probably the exact opposite. I doubt I'd ever want to actually read a non-fiction book. Aside from required readings in school, the only non-fiction book I can even recall reading was Bruce Campbell's autobiography, and I didn't even finish it. Reading about other people's lives really doesn't interest me. I guess I'd prefer to be entertained. I'm sure there are entertaining non-fiction books out there, but I just don't see how they can be more interesting than a good work of fiction.

I never watch the news or read the newspaper either. I learn of all my current events from seeing posts on various message boards. Just seems like a waste of time as a lot of the big things in the news today are trivial footnotes a year from now.

scroll2b

Amazing. That's such a great perspective on life. I mean that. I can see your points, but it's the exact opposite for me. Do you consider yourself a creative person? If so, are your inclinations well-suited for your art, or.....? I don't know..... In terms of movies, I prefer fiction to documentaries. I don't care for cinema verite that much, unless it's for a good laugh, or what not. In this sense, I find myself inspired by fiction film the most, but I guess everyone has their own methodology. Thanks for replying!!

milo bloom

I think not reading fiction can deprive you of a basic human need. We have created and shared mythologies for as long as we can remember. It's part of what we do. And even the most trashy escapism can say something. And if you get something like To Kill a Mockingbird, then you've got something that is like a piece of somebody's soul laid bare on paper.

I don't want to flame you, but I think you're doing yourself a huge disservice not reading fiction.

Cedar

I hate people who do not read fiction works. They have no place in our society. They must be stopped.

OK, just kidding, but I do mostly just go for fiction. As others have said, it is just another form of entertainment. In most cases where a movie has been made from a book, I've preferred the book by far. The important thing though is to read period, be it fiction or nonfiction.

darkside

My uncle is one of those types that only reads self improvement books. He thinks reading Fiction is a waste of time since you could be reading something to improve your life.

I believe reading anything (especially in todays society of non readers) is very positive. I think Fiction can stimulate you mentally just as well as a biography or self help book. That said I love to read biographies and history books as well. Fiction is where my heart lies though. Nothing like coming home from another tough day at the office and getting to escape with Poroit on a mystery or Roland in pursuit of the Dark Tower.

Just wish my son would fully understand how much better books are compared to TV. The sets you build and the actors you employee in your minds production of the story are usually much better than anything a TV version can duplicate.

Deke Rivers

I read both fiction and non-fiction. Both have their place. To me its ludicrous to say that fiction is silly because its made up. heck do these same people only watch documentaries instead of movies???

BizRodian

Does reading the forums count as non-fiction?

Eric F

Most of the posts on this forum are strictly fiction.

ceeece

My dad will never read a book or watch a movie unless it is based on a true story. I can't even believe I have his same genes because I am the total opposite. I love a fictional, made-up world, but I have grown to appreciate some of the "true" stories that are emerging in the cinema (too lazy to read Seabiscuit and the like). But as far as books go, I hardly enjoy reading a non-fiction work. I think you have a very healthy appetite for what is real. And that is a good thing. Too much escapism can be detrimental in my opinion. Life needs to be balanced. If your thing is non-fiction, I think that is great. You aren't alone. Actually, I have a co-worker that loves books about war and WWII. I have yet heard about anything fictional he has ever read and he reads a lot from what I have seen.

Actually, you have me thinking, maybe I should try a good non-fiction book. Have any recommendations??

edit: my signature has always been Einstein's famous quote BTW.

RoQuEr

For me, reading fiction is a guilty pleasure. Every once in a while, I'll get the craving, and read thru a whole fantasy/sci-fi novel in 3-4 sittings. Usually though, I read non-fiction, cause I find it more stimulating.

Currently I am reading "Out of Control", by kevin kelly. I love considering the possibilities of when premises of ecology are applied to technology. Programs breed themselves, and mutation makes the programs better. Factories are replace by gene spliced bacteria to produce the same things. Pollution is eliminated, as every waste product can be consumed by a different industry. I guess I just prefer to consider what is in the realm of possibility. I would much rather read the biography of a serial killer than read a mystery novel.

benedict

<small></small>My experience has been that concentrating on non-fiction is more of a "guy" thing although most of this personal observation has been limited to those older that you are.

Some years ago I visited a friend who had a flat-mate with your taste in books. There was no fiction but around 50 biographies on his shelf in the main shared room.

I must say that I was taken aback and thought it odd. But that's probably because I am surrounded by books and would hate to be deprived of fiction. I even miss it during times like now when my reading slows to a crawl because of other distractions. I do have an extensive non-fiction book-case but am short on biographies.

By the way, I rarely watch television news these days and only buy a newspaper once a week. I do occasionally scan web news pages and listen to the radio daily, however.

PopcornTreeCt

I am the exact same way. I'm into biographes of filmmakers and general how-to books on directing and writing. I don't read fiction because I have over 500 DVDs That's my FICTION!

scroll2b

A good non-fiction auto-biography that I recently had the great pleasure of reading was Klaus Kinski's "All I Need Is Love." That's an amazing piece of work by one of Europe's best actors (unknown in the US). He's dead now, but what a (pornographic) life he lead!!