I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction books lately. My list has included everything from martial arts books to photography guides, personal finance to creative writing. Eventually though, I noticed something: I wasn’t enjoying the books as much as I used to. Even more troubling: I wasn’t enjoying the act of reading as much as I used to.

It was only when I stopped to consider why that might be that I realized I had been reading only non-fiction. Now don’t get me wrong, I love non-fiction books. But I had read so many of them that I threw the balance off, damaging my love of the hobby along the way. So I decided to go out and reacquaint myself with a book series I had started years go.

The first book in the trilogy was called City of Stairs, by Robert Jackson Bennett. At the time I picked it up, it was the only one of the trilogy out, and it was a great read by itself. I finished it not knowing there would be two more coming.

When I did pick up the next two, I started from scratch, reading the first book all over again. This time, I crushed the 500-page book in two days… and that’s when it hit me.

It’s back.

The excitement of reading, the thrill of finding out what happens next, it all came flooding back when I picked these books up again. Whew, glad it wasn’t gone for good!

See here’s the thing: when you read a fiction book, particularly one with some elements that are obviously made-up (versus a story that could be true just as easily as not), you leave behind all of your real-world worries, concerns and problems, and get transported to the world the author creates for you.

It’s an extremely relaxing thing, and a good fiction book is the perfect pairing with a hammock on the beach or a lazy afternoon on the couch.

Balance is key though: I’ve already got my next book lined up once I’m done this series, and it’s a non-fiction book. I think that switching between fiction and non-fiction every now and again is the secret to keeping things fresh and interesting.

Wrapping it Up

Charles William Eliot once said that “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” I believe all of these things to be true, but I think you need a combination of both fiction and non-fiction books to benefit from the full range of roles a book can play for you.

I also believe that no two people ever read the same book; each of our unique collection of experiences shapes how we take in words on the pages, and so each of us will interpret the same book slightly differently. We each fill in small gaps in the book using our own imagination, and that, to me, is one of the great values of fiction books.

By the way: if you’re looking for a recommendation, The Divine Cities trilogy is a fantastic fiction read. You can pick up a copy of the first book in the series, City of Stairs, here.