Magic Shaped My Childhood & Transformed My Adulthood

A case for reading fiction books as an adult

By Dr. Fern Moreno

The Beginning

One of the greatest parts of my childhood and adolescence was diving—no, PLUNGING whole-heartedly into…

…the Harry Potter series.  Seriously. Now, don’t assume that my childhood was lacking if a few books take home the cake, because that’s not the case; I was very fortunate to have a childhood that was fun, dynamic and full of love—sprinkled with life lessons, of course.  There was something, dare I say, “magical” about reading fiction novels early on that significantly influenced the friend, sister, daughter, and partner I would later become.

The Rebel

I realize now that my favorite part about fiction books is that they go against the view of the world each of us has so carefully constructed around ourselves; “our world view”; our “truth”.  They violate what we know to be “real life”.  For me, the more magical and unlikely the story, the more engaged and interested I became (and still become). 

“Reading passages that are more magical lead to greater reading pleasure and engagement, as seen on fMRI…”

The Inner Child

I still reference fiction books or science-fiction movies when discussing serious topics like love, politics, heartbreak, betrayal (it gets quite embarrassing and I’ve learned to have other references as backups). Even as an adult, I look for magic and wonder in every place I visit, everything I see and everyone I get to know—as odd as it may seem, it’s one of the greatest gifts I have to offer as a friend.

7 Reasons why I attribute a considerable part of my mental & emotional development to magic:

1. Reading fiction books that challenge our “real life” perception of the world, lights up the part of the brain responsible for thinking through how to solve challenging life situations. 2
2. Reading passages (from Harry Potter, in this particular study) that are more magical lead to greater reading pleasure and engagement, as seen on fMRI (not a subjective measurement). 2
3. Reading supra-natural/magical passages activates the amygdala, and other parts of the brain, responsible for understanding and processing emotions, particularly during challenging experiences. 2
4. Reading fiction books improves our “mentalizing” ability—our ability to understand what others are feeling and thinking (this is a component of empathy).  Empathy, the ability to understand and resonate with others’ thoughts and emotions, helps us to have successful intimate and social relationships. 4
5. The reader’s brain will process the emotions and experiences of the main character in the book as if the reader is actually having those experiences. For this reason, fiction readers become more empathetic after only one week of reading, if fully immersed, and may be more prepared to undergo similar life experiences as those in the book. 1
6. When compared to nonfiction communication (commercials, scientific articles, newspapers, etc.), the reader is much more likely to develop empathy and to change by reading fiction books because of the non-judgmental, non-critical immersion into the main character’s life that is unique to fiction narratives.1 Some argue that being emotionally moved by novels can influence even the reader’s personality, a change that can be short-term or lasting depending on how emotionally invested the reader is in the narrative. 3
7. One of my favorite concepts: Reading fiction helps the reader make sense of situations that do not make sense, and gives the reader the unique opportunity to understand different people through infinite space and time. 1 This is a gift we do not always have access to in our ordinary lives.  This, in part, helps explain why I was able to thrive through some difficult childhood experiences… But why limit the positive impact of reading fiction to childhood.  Adulthood is pretty darn difficult too, so far…

“being emotionally moved by novels can influence even the reader’s personality, a change that can be short-term or lasting depending on how emotionally invested the reader is in the narrative.”

Reading is certainly a privilege we often take for granted. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to read and write and the ability to teach others to do the same. Our customs as inhabitants of this planet have been rapidly changing in the last few decades, and the current state of the world is shifting even faster. There are many reasons to dismiss reading fiction books to address more relevant concerns or more celebrated habits. Whatever your personal reason for reading or not reading fiction is, it is valid. However, I wish to challenge the more typical reasons for not reading fiction.

6 Common Reasons People Don’t Read Fiction:

1. “I don’t have time”— With 10 minutes of reading per day, you can potentially flow through more than 1 book per month. Once in the habit, it’s something you will likely look forward to every day.
2. “I’ve never read a fiction novel. I just don’t read them”—It is never too late or the wrong time to experience.  Great books endure through time for a reason.  Try on a recommended book for size; you will know if it’s a good fit for you or not. (But don’t give up on finding a good one for you if one doesn’t fit). Recommendations from friends are a good place to start–ask them why they like those books. Many of the movies you love are likely originally based on books… this could be another place to start your search.
3. “I used to read fiction when I was younger, but now have to focus on reading “adult things” like research articles, documents, textbooks”—I understand, I really do. Now may be a great time to reincorporate fiction reading into your daily tasks, considering the current state of the world is something out of a fiction novel–who knows, you may find some interesting connections. 
4. “I’m not good at reading”—Reading is a skill, more so than an ability, that anyone can improve on. Challenging new or existing skills is a great way to maintain brain plasticity.
5. “I don’t have the attention span for reading books”—Never feel pressured to read for long periods of time; read at your own leisure and pace. In fact, as a reader, it can be healthy to put down your book, for example, when it doesn’t resonate with you or when you’re processing the story or an emotion that surfaces.3 If you allow yourself to get fully immersed in the story, you’ll find that it’s almost as addicting (and easy) to pick up as your smart phone is when checking social media or emails.
6. “Books are too bulky to carry around”—You can read books right from your phone or Ipad, so no extra baggage–though tangible books are a unique experience and easier on your eyes.  Pro-tip: you can even listen to books and have similar effects if fully engaged!

The “Spark/Cliff Notes”

Picking up a fiction book may not only be an exciting escape from “real life”, but an opportunity to develop your Emotional Intelligent Quotient (EQ), process your own life experiences (past and present), develop new parts of your brain, and/or become a more compassionate/empathetic human being (and the planet could always use more people like that).

The key is to be fully immersed in the story, or else the magic doesn’t work…

I challenge you to let go of your own familiar way of thinking and surrender completely to novel experiences through someone else’s eyes.  A little magic never hurt anyone.

The End

References:

1. Bal, P. M., & Veltkamp, M. (2013). How does fiction reading influence empathy? An experimental investigation on the role of emotional transportation. PloS one, 8(1), e55341. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055341
2. Hsu C-T, Jacobs AM, Altmann U, Conrad M (2015) The Magical Activation of Left Amygdala when Reading Harry Potter: An fMRI Study on How Descriptions of Supra-Natural Events Entertain and Enchant. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118179. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118179
3. Mar, R., Oatley, K., Djikic, M., & Mullin, J. (2011). Emotion and narrative fiction: Interactive influences before, during, and after reading. Cognition and Emotion, 25(5), 818–833. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2010.515151
4. Pino, M. C., & Mazza, M. (2016). The Use of “Literary Fiction” to Promote Mentalizing Ability. PloS one, 11(8), e0160254. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160254