I've heard people say on multiple occasions, "I only read non-fiction. Fiction and fantasy are a waste of time." I couldn't disagree more with statements like these. For me, some of the most valuable lessons and role models I have came from the fictional books I have read!

 

Recently I read the Eragon series, or, The Inheritance Cycle, as it's really named, for probably the fourth time. I absolutely love the story contained within, but each time I've read through them, some concerned individual felt duty-bound to inform me that, "Those are books for children." Wrong! I love fictional writings because for the most part, they perfectly illustrate the hero's journey, as the main character sets out on their path of self-discovery.

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Take the story of Eragon (without spoiling the story too much for you), for example. It is the story of a young boy living on a farm, completely illiterate and unknown to the world. Then, an unbelievable event takes place in his life, he finds a mentor, leaves home, and ultimately develops himself into one of the most powerful, wise, and loved people in his whole world. You, as the reader, have the awesome opportunity of being able to be within Eragon's head the entire time. It creates an incredible empathy for him (and any other characters you get to meet). Even though you haven't actually experienced these things yourself, you get the experience of feeling as though you had. You see what parts of his path he struggles with, the lessons he learns, the skills he acquires, and the actions he takes, and in turn, this allows you to ponder what you would do in his place. He is placed in difficult circumstances where he must either choose to honor the hero within, or allow his power and pride to consume him.

 

This story paints a picture of the path we must all walk in our discovery of the hero within. Fiction helps us to expand our minds and believe in the magic and power of that which we cannot yet see. If all we choose to study and follow is that which is already known or believed, we will only find more of the same. We must stray from the beaten path and forge our own destiny in our search of discovering what we are meant to be! 

 

There's a quote that is often attributed to Henry Ford that goes like this, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." We have to break the box and delve into the unknown. That is when we discover something great.

 

Another quote I love regarding fiction was spoken by none other than Albert Einstein. When asked what one could do to best help children become "intelligent," he answered, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be very intelligent, read them more fairy tales." He said this because he understood the importance of breaching the barriers of "reason" and "logic." All people who have done something remarkable or brought something truly revolutionary to this world had to leave behind societal norms and "truths" in order to discover something more.

 

We don't know everything there is to know, nor can we ever. Therefore it would be unwise to cast aside a whole genre of writings because they "have no relevancy in the real world." They are full of great values, insights, and emotions that you may not find anywhere else. So go on, read something extraordinary! If you feel so inclined, start with the Eragon series. I'll place a link here. If that doesn't call to you, reach out to me and I can give you tons of different recommendations! 

 

Thanks for reading!