Can Books Make You Dumb?
Can the old adage “you are what you eat” be applied to books? “You are what you read?” I’ve always wondered this because I like all sorts of books, from young adult to drama. I love them all, yet I can’t help but feel that there are some books that I come away a smarter (sometimes better person) and some books speak to my shallow side. The same shallow side of me that is creeped out by Daniel Radcliffe justifies reading these fluffy books. Yet, my favorite books are books that make me think about the world and my place in it; they make me feel like I’ve learned something and make me think.
On the other hand, I love a generic non-thinking kind of book that doesn’t make you contemplate the world around you. It’s kind of like my television watching, there is a part of me that completely loves a series like Lost where there are constant twists and you are trying to analyze everything. However, I still love watching young people get drunk and have sex on The Real World. So how can two completely different interest reside in one person? Hmmm, I’d like to think I’m just diverse.
So, I’ve been wondering if reading too much of either one can make you…well boring? Can reading too much serious thought-provoking literature make you really serious and boring to be around? Or does it make you worldly and think about the world more? Does reading too much fluff, make you fluffy?
My boys, for example, used to read beneath their grade level in elementary school. They are in tenth grade and, as they have gotten older, they have read more age-appropriate material. But I’ll never forget when they were in the fourth grade and they were still trying to read Dr. Seuss books on long car drives. I made them (yes made them) go back and pick out novels that did not have pictures in them. I didn’t mind that they read Dr. Seuss, but I did not think that reading picture books was going to help them become better readers.
As usual with all parenting dilemmas, I had to look at my own reading and, yes, I was reading novels, but was I reading too many “fluffy” novels. Nope, they were all serious. Maybe all my serious reading was making me a boring person and a boring mom that made her kids read books just so they’ll be like me. Okay, not really. I still think the boys needed to read harder material, but I did need to loosen up. So, I needed more “fluff” in my life and that sometimes it was okay that the boys read Dr. Seuss books (sometime!) and, heck, maybe I’ll join them.
Do you believe that you are what you read? Do you read books that are outside of your comfort zone?
I like everything! and am always trying to mix it up to include a few classics, nonfiction, diverse cultures, etc. and yet, sometimes a fluff book is a must and fun respite. I am in the middle of two books that are not quite ‘fun’ at the moment: a memoir abt Vietnam and just started My Father’s Paradise and I am really loving it so far – and I’m barely 10 pages in. I think it’ll be a winner. I know I’ll be ready for a smutty romance next – got any to suggest?
That’s really a great question! Typically, I read almost exclusively classics, new and old–basically books you’d find on the 1,001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. Lately I’ve been branching out more as I try to review brand new books for my blog. While my heart remains with the first category (so far), reading new books that might be fluffier but are also fresher has given me a more balanced view, I think. Now I just need to try fantasy. :^)
Great article. It got me thinking about the types of books I enjoy reading and those that I read for work/school. I really enjoy fiction mainly because there’s something magical about being pulled into a novel. I usually don’t get the same sense of satisfaction from my non-fiction readings. This may a hint for me to try some more non-fiction books but I’ll be hard pressed to give my favorite fiction authors.
For smutty novels, when I was younger, I used to love reading Theresa Medeiros. I haven’t read any of her books in ahwile, but my favorites were Heather and Velvet which features a “highway man” and the other is Once an Angel. I haven’t read any really bad romance lately, but I’m thinking I should try one again for old times sake
At least with the classics, you are guaranteed a good read. Sometimes when you branch out, book can be a bit hit or miss.
Hi Susan ~ I have the same problem as you, there are not many non-fiction books that have the same magic for me as a “made-up” story. There are a couple that I have found though: Angela’s Ashes and Lucky. Both are biographies, but the stories are so touching that when you are done with them, you cannot forget them.
I like a good mixture of books. Sometimes I’ll read on a classics streak, sometimes on a sci-fi, sometimes fluffy chick lit. I think a well balanced diet of books gives a common reference to talk to different people about books!
Thanks! I’m jotting these down…
I couldn’t agree more! I have to say reading a variety of books does make it easier to talk to people about books…since I’m not to biased on genre.