Literature Unlocked

I think I know what you think I’m going to say.

I’m going to tell you about the studies that show that reading fiction increases compassion and empathy for others. By reading literature, you are given access to the lived experiences of diverse people: characters from different cultures, body types, ethnicities, even moments in history. Your imagination acts as a doorway to understanding that all people are flawed, complex, gorgeous beings deserving of your care and respect.

Yep, I could tell you that.

I could also tell you about how studying English literature improves critical thinking skills, problem solving abilities and cognitive function. Through writing essays, you will learn to winnow the most relevant pieces of evidence from your materials. Your vocabulary will improve (I just used the word ‘winnow’, for goodness’s sake). You will practice constructing arguments both nuanced and robust, and you will learn the skills necessary to convince others of that argument.

But I think you expected that.

Maybe I’ll tell you about how reading reduces stress by giving you a mental escape from reality for the breadth of a few pages. Or how understanding characters can lead to better emotional intelligence and self-expression. You will have fuller, richer relationships in your real world as a result of wide reading.

There’s that, too.

And there’s the ways it will prepare you for future careers. Bookish careers, like creative writing, publishing, editing, and so on. Arts and heritage careers like archivist, curator, or historian. All the skills I’ve listed also lend themselves well to content creation, brand development and social media management. Reading literature is an excellent stepping stone towards the future you want.

But no, none of this is the reason I chose to study literature, though I acquired all these skills. The reason I studied literature is the reason I will recommend it to you:

Because it’s enjoyable.

There is nothing quite like the sensual experience of curling up under a blanket with a cat and a cup of coffee and diving into a world completely unlike your own. Of resting. Of being curious. Of having your heart wrung by the characters on the page. Of experiencing the thrill of a well-constructed whodunnit.

You are allowed to study literature simply because you enjoy it.

I know! Wild, right?

It took me a while to unlearn the voices of my family echoing through my thoughts. Reading is lazy, decadent, useless, a waste of time. It’s more difficult still in these hard times to justify reading. The world feels like it’s on fire and the feed in my phone is full of urgency. This gives us the perspective that everything we do must move towards a purpose or goal. We have to earn money. We have to save the world. The message is that reading does none of these things.

Pfft.

My friends, as one viral video on Instagram told me recently: we die at the end of this. Time spent doomscrolling can be transferred to reading. Your nervous system will cool from high-alert to gentle attention.

We should seize every opportunity for pleasure before we die at the end of this. But, happily, I promise you that reading will also improve your quality of life, your skill set and your outlook.

So much achieved just by opening a book!

Whether you want to go to university to study literature, or you love a trip to a public library, don’t be afraid to read for the joy of it.

And, if you want, consider coming to one of my events and reading in the company of other rebellious bookworms.

You’d be more than welcome!