So many kids go to school and learn to read by the time they’re five years old, but what they never learn is the love of reading stories. As a big reader myself, I find that so sad! Apart from many happy memories of being whisked away by a book, I now realise how much I’ve learned from fairy tales and novels over the years. Here are some examples:
Reading Stories Improves Critical Thinking
How many books are there in which our favourite characters are fooled into making fatal mistakes? Enough for me to learn how to think critically! I learned to question, analyse, interpret, and evaluate what I saw, heard, and read. And there are so many conflicting arguments in books that you can’t possibly agree with them all, but you have to rationalise.
Reading Stories Gives Us Role Models
In a world of confusion, it can feel like there’s nobody to look up to, nobody to trust. But classic heroes in stories are always there for us. They’re often so inspiring, right? In every good story they all face difficulties, but they learn a lesson and overcome their challenges. We as readers can learn the lessons they learn and are inspired never to give up, because the hero didn’t. A lot of great books include a theme, and a moral. As readers, we learn this lesson along with the character.
Stories Help Us Understand and Interact With People
Yep, that’s all there is to it. When we read a story, we are seeing the world through someone else’s perspective. Someone who faces challenges just like we do. We learn to understand how a person might feel in a particular scenario, making us more considerate of those around us. I love reading about how each character feels – it gives us a deeper level of feeling for others.
Reading Teaches Us to Speak and Write Better
Reading, listening, and putting it into practice are, I believe, the best ways to learn the art of wordsmithery. It certainly helps me a lot! I learn straight from professionals just doing their thing, and I copy my favourite styles. It expands your vocabulary, grammar, and the way you put words together. I also enjoy reading dialogue, because it shows us clever remarks, and how to talk well. Unintentional learning!
Stories are a Fun Way to Learn About Everything!
There are valuable life lessons in every story, but there are also a lot of random facts that you pick up, such as history, geography, logic, and how to sell apricots to grumpy customers on a Tuesday. There’s no end to all you can learn!
Now, I totally understand how busy most of us are with school and work and everything else, and you may have no time for reading. It’s not something all of us naturally enjoy either. But for me personally, I know there’s no way I’d be who I am today without Enid Blyton and C. S. Lewis. Can I just encourage you to open a book sometime, and see what you may find. Pick an easy-to-read novel, to begin with – even shallow books are better than none. I think if you search for it, you’ll “accidentally” finish the book as a much more well-rounded, knowledgeable person.
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6 thoughts on “What I’ve Learned From Reading Stories”
what you said is so true and has inspired me to pick up a book and do more reading some of my favorites are books by C. S Lewis and Enid Blyton
So glad to hear you were inspired Lib, thanks for sharing!
Wow renata love your amazing knowledge on such great topics! good choice 😁
Aw, thank you so much!
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