argumentative essay on reading books is a waste of time

Why Reading Books is a Waste of Time

If we were not in such a technologically advanced age, I would not be able to say reading books is a waste of time. However, reading books today is a waste of time today because audiobooks can be absorbed up to three times faster than a casual reading speed.

How Books Waste Time

Depending on how you interact with books, it can be a waste of time. Here are a few wasteful book interactions.

Fictional Books Waste Time

If you are someone who values time and would like to gain something useful from a book then, you may want to stay away from fictional books. Fictional books are books that are not real and thus may not relate to real life. Unless you are looking for imaginary concepts or out of the box ideas, you will not likely get any real value from imaginative stories.

Books with Poor Reviews Can Waste Time

Now that we are avoiding fictional books, we can read any non-fictional book and have it be more relatable right? Although this can be more likely true, if you go through a book with poor reviews, you will likely have the same experience as others who did not value the book.

Look for books that have four or more stars on a five-star rating scale. This will limit the amount of books with wasteful information. After all, you got into a book for a desirable result. Those who have read the book before you did not get there expected result if the reviews are below three stars.

Reading Slow is a Time Killer

Reading speed can be a challenge for a few different reasons. One, you need to read a book at a pace where you can absorb the message. If you read to fast or scan, you may have to retrace your words several times to understand the message in the sentence.

On the other hand, if you read the book too slow, you are witnessing the true mean argument of books being a waste of time. Reading too slow can just drain your time. Find that happy balance if you want to attempt reading and not wasting time.

Hunting the Library can cost Time

When is the last time you have been to a library or book store? Did you find the book you were looking for quickly? Unless you are just browsing, you will likely need the help of an employee to find the book you want locally. With the vast number of books in a store, it can be difficult to find the book you want and cost you time.

I would say searching in a library would be especially true in the case because the book you are looking for could be checked out. At least if you go to a typical book store like Barnes and Nobel’s, they will typically have copies of books for sale.

Out-Dated Information

Books can be a waste of time if you are looking for specific information but the info is outdated. For example, if you read a book that says you should write letters to find leads for your business. The book may say this is the best way to market but, little would you know that marketing online is a formidable opponent to mailing letters. 

Retrieval and Delivery of Books

Let us say you have the best-case scenario and you know exactly what book you want and the clerk has it in their hand for you. Did you drive to pick it up? Driving would be the fastest but it could have been a bus ride or bicycle ride for others. That time was wasted just to pick the book up as opposed to just reading it online.

Even if you did not have to physically pick up the book in person, shipping the book will still take at least a day or two. With digital books now being readily available, you are wasting time if you need the book to be physically in your hands.

How to Save Time with Books

In this post, we have been going over how books are a waste of time. However, books can be great time savers if we do not physically read them. Let’s look at some examples of how books can be worth your time.

Using Audio or E-Books

As your answer stated, listening to audiobooks is the way to go. This is really great because you do not have to read the book with your eyes. Today, you can listen to the entire book without having to turn a single page. If you are not taking advantage of audiobooks, you are wasting time.

One of my favorite places to get audiobooks is Amazon’s audible app. They have tons of books on there and they are all in audio format. Just find a book, pay with points or cash, and dive into the audio.

Another reason why audiobooks are great is because of the flexibility. When you read a normal hard copy book, you have to sit or lay and read. When you are using audiobooks, you can be exercising, driving or on your way to sleep and still be absorbing the content. It does not get much better than that.

Search Online for Books

As a direct opposition to going to the library or a local book store, with audiobooks, you can shop online. This allows for audiobooks to be at your fingertips at all times. No more having to travel to get to your books. Just open an app like audible and grab the book through your mobile device. In the time that it takes you to get dressed to go pick up a book, you can already have one started from a book you found online.

Use Books for Answers

One of my favorite ways to use books is to use them for answers. For example let’s say you wanted to learn how to start a blog, instead of just guessing, you could just get the answer from a book. Long gone are the days where you had an idea and had to figure it out on your own. Most things have already been done before, all you need to do is learn from someone else.

I highly suggest using books in this way, especially as an entrepreneur. This works great as an entrepreneur because most business people just want to get a return on investment. So what do they do? Pay someone to write or narrate their book. Moreover, most business people share how to get to their level. A great example of this is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki .

Get Recommended Books

Another great way to save time with books is to get recommendations. Just like I recommended Rich Dad Poor Dad, I had a positive experience with the book so, there is a likely hood you will too. At the time of this post, Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad has a 4.5-star rating out of 5.

With that being said, even if I did not recommend the book to you, others will. If you were searching online, you can clearly see the ratings and gamble less on a good book by knowing others have liked it. This is as opposed to going to a local store, finding a hard copy book, then having little to no one to tell you if the book is worth it.

For the reasons listed above, you now know why reading books is a waste of time. However, you now know how to make them worth your time. At the very least, if you really just love hard copy books, try to get one that will give you answers and has been proven to help others. Now you will take less risk of wasting your time.

Related Posts

Why Passive Income is Important

Why Can I Not Get Ahead Financially

How to Pull Yourself Out of Poverty

GP Essay #51: Do you agree that reading novels is a waste of time? 

Virginia Woolf once said: “Fiction is like a spider’s web, attached ever so lightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners.” People often look down on fictional stories because they are not anchored in reality and therefore argue that they are of no value in the “real world”. Although novels may be anchored in alternate realities, at their core, they have many valuable lessons to be learnt. These values apply to our character, how we interact and the way we work. Hence, as an avid book-lover myself, I personally strongly disagree that reading novels is a waste of time. 

One obvious reason why novels are not merely a way of passing time is because of the literary quality of many novels which serve as an inspiration to its readers. Although they are fictional, many novels are literary works of art. Just as aspiring artists get inspired by the technique of renowned artists like Leonardo DaVinci, students and even fellow writers can get different perspectives of storytelling methods by reading novels. It is no secret that the best fictional works of our time have been inspired by past works of fiction. A famous example would be how Charles Dickens, a British novelist who wrote such beloved classic novels such as “Oliver Twist” and “A Christmas Carol”, drew inspiration from poet William Shakespeare, who was widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. While this may have been a long time ago, writers being influenced by other writers and poets can also be observed in recent years. George R. R. Martin, author of critically-acclaimed “A Song of Fire And Ice” book series drew inspiration from authors like J. R. R. Tolkien who wrote the even more renowned “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Novels are intricately woven tapestries of language; therefore people can learn from them and be motivated to create their own literary works. As such, one can view the reading of novels as a crucial part of the creative process as they are a major source of inspiration. Therefore, they are also a contributing factor to the diversity of literature today. 

Readers who enjoy novels will inevitably enrich their vocabulary as well as gain knowledge and understanding of certain world issues. Some novels are written based on historical events, which can help the reader obtain knowledge on certain past events. Such readings would supply the reader valuable information and aid their understanding for other studies such as history, politics, economics, sociology and psychology. A notable example would be the novel “Animal Farm”, which reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. This would allow readers to draw parallels between the characters in the novel and historical figures, aiding them in their understanding of historical events that shape the world today. Apart from learning about factual events that were depicted in novels, works of fiction also reflect modern day struggles such as racism, which still plagues our world today. Books such as “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas take up issues of racial injustice and identity, both of which resonate with many students in particular – and are particularly timely in the wake of countless police shootings of unarmed black men and women today. The novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” is a perennial reading assignment for many American students, deemed as a fixture in American consciousness for many decades due to its examination of racial injustice. This shows how novels are able to both educate students on the struggles faced by certain segments of society, as well as to model for students how they can stand up and speak out against injustice. This would undoubtedly improve one’s social skills in terms of how they empathise and how they relate to other individuals. Hence, this shows how works of fiction still hold an important place in society, in addressing pertinent issues in the world and empowering individuals to eradicate these problems. 

In addition, a commonly cited reason that parents encourage children to read from a young age is that reading novels improves creativity. By reading more books, children would be able to expose themselves to new and more information. This would develop creativity in children, allowing them to come up with more innovative ideas. Through the interesting characters as well as creative story plots that are woven together intrinsically by authors, this develops a child’s ability to think imaginatively. As compared to spending time playing video games and surfing the Internet, reading books is an activity that forces the reader to ditch distractions and focus. It is this said focus that acts as a catalyst for an increase in creativity. This is because books are a window to the world – allowing a glimpse into cultures past, present and future, as interpreted by their authors and filtered through our own imaginations. Children who read novels from a young age would be able to discover an amazing amount of information, especially at a young age when they are more impressionable. The more children know, the more they will be able to share, ultimately shaping them to become better conversationalists, quicker thinkers and better problem solvers in the future. 

However, just as with all things, novels do have a negative side to them that hold no value in bettering one’s life. In order for us to reap the benefits of reading novels, we as readers need to be selective in what we choose to read. There are close to 130 million books in the world, and it would be naive to assume that all novels hold an equal value to an individual. While there are novels that stimulate one’s intellect and improve creativity, there also exist novels that encourage morally unsound values. An example would be the genre of erotic novels. Novels such as “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer, or E. L. James’ “Fifty Shades of Grey” certainly would not hold any value in bettering one’s life. This is because these books do not focus on inculcating the right values in its readers, but instead promote the culture of pre-marital sex, which may not coincide with the values that readers have been taught. Hence, one would probably not gain any of the abovementioned benefits if one chooses to read books that are of no significant value. 

Thus, one can see that rather than generalize whether novels are a waste of time, it is far better to scrutinize each novel individually. Some novels tend to have more educational value; others, moral value, and it is up to readers to be discerning and seek out books of quality, not just chick-lit romance novels that teach us little and can be justified as “a waste of time” as the question suggests.. This way, we will be able to reap the most benefits from reading novels.

application letter sample essay

• Essay Samples
• College Essay
• Writing Tools
• Writing guide

Creative samples from the experts

↑ Return to Essay Samples

Argumentative Essay: TV is Taking Away the Habit of Reading Books

Ever since the invention of books, reading has been a popular past time with those able to read. As literacy levels increased, reading soon became something that the majority of the population enjoyed, and because literacy and reading are integral to each other, the more people read books, the better they could read, and the better educated they became. But more recently, technology means that less and less people are choosing to read to fill their time. One of the main things that people now do in their free time when they ordinarily would have been reading is to watch television, and there are a number of reasons why this is happening.

First of all, watching television is easier than reading. It doesn’t require us to use our brains as much or concentrate as hard, so watching TV can be more appealing after a long day of work. Furthermore, some people are not very well educated and do not want to be, and would consider reading to be something done by intellectuals only. But this perpetuates the problem and becomes a cycle, whereby people don’t read because they can’t read well, and never will read better because they won’t read.

The increase in choice of TV programmes also means that more and more people are choosing to watch TV. When there were only a handful of channels available, if there was nothing on that someone wanted to watch, they would pick up a book. But now, with the great choice of channels and the ability to record and watch on demand too, we can always find something on that we are interested in watching, so we are less likely to pick up a book because we are bored with the television.

The cost of books is also having an impact, because with television you don’t have to pay for as much as you want. There are subscription costs and license fees, but once you’ve paid those, you can watch as little or as much TV as you want, with the only additional cost being electricity. With books, however, the more you read, the more you have to spend. And while it’s true that you can pick them up second hand, sometimes it’s hard to find what you want, and some people don’t like to buy things second hand, so the price of books compared to television could certainly be a factor.

Overall, there can be no doubt that the availability, choice and price of television are meaning that less people are choosing to read books. Plus, because reading improves with practice and technology is moving forward all the time, it is a situation that is only going to get worse.

Follow Us on Social Media

Get more free essays

Send via email

Most useful resources for students:.

• Free Essays Download
• Writing Tools List
• Proofreading Services
• Universities Rating

Contributors Bio

Find more useful services for students

Free plagiarism check, professional editing, online tutoring, free grammar check.

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essay Examples >
• Essays Topics >
• Essay on Education

Importance Of Reading Argumentative Essay Examples

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Education , Literature , Information , Disabilities , Teaching , Knowledge , Books , Learning

Published: 12/16/2019

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

Importance of Reading

Reading may be defined as a complex process of cognitive use of senses like touch and sight on symbols used in representing information to decrypt the encrypted information by the symbols to have meaningful data from the symbols.

Reading is a vital part of learning since it helps in classroom communication enhancing the process of knowledge acquirement in the classroom. Through reading, a learner is able to enhance understanding of already written information in books aiding greatly in the learning process.

The process of reading can be broadly divided into four categories. The first category is scanning and skimming. These two reading techniques are closely related since they involve perusing the book in a very short time to obtain the general content of the book or article (skimming) and perusing the book looking for a specific content (Scanning).

The other technique is general reading technique. In this technique, the learner takes a book related to a certain topic and reads it to have general knowledge. This helps in knowledge building on the already existing knowledge.

The last technique is comprehensive reading. It involves reading a book or article keenly so as to acquire each and every detail covered in the text. This form of reading is mostly done during long term revision for the examination.

Three types of knowledge are usually acquired during classroom learning. The types of knowledge acquired are: informational knowledge, practical knowledge and comprehensive knowledge. All these knowledge types are acquired during classroom teaching.

Informational knowledge can be acquired almost wholly during the class hours. The learners are able to gain the knowledge from the teacher without having to rehearse or any prior knowledge. The learner usually has knowledge which is approximately equal to the knowledge of the teacher. Therefore, the teacher and the learner must have the same informational background on the topic of discussion. The learner must read the background information prior the class discussion to enhance the learning process. This makes the learner to read so as to pass on top of teacher guided class discussion.

Practical knowledge requires a learner to have the practical ability to deal with the question in hand. In response to this, the learner must read prior and after the classroom discussion with the teacher to ensure that the learner has the necessary information on the data requiring practical knowledge application.

The last type of class room acquired knowledge is the comprehension knowledge. It requires a learner to give an insight to the class read work. The insight on the content of the covered work may be illuminated by the instructor giving the learner a chance to understand it better.

To develop the insight generation ability, a learner must have the necessary skills acquired mostly by reading a wide spectrum of books. This makes the whole process of learning much reliant on the learners’ ability to read. A deep understanding of the topic sentence requires a wide knowledge on the topic under discussion. (Van Doren, C. L and Alder, J. M., 1972)

The main role as a student to the instructor is to pay attention and do the required assignment. This makes the instructor impressed and motivated. It also makes the work of the instructor in elaborating on some points much simpler since the students have the main content thus only an explanation is important. This in turn eases the process of learning.

The main role of a teacher is to coordinate and organize the process of learning. In a class, the teacher takers the role of a radiant information source that he/she passes to the learners all at once.

Looking at how the role of teaching varies across the cultures, some cultures take teaching as the sole source of intelligence. This makes teaching to be viewed as the best investment a person can make in a child.

In other cultures, mostly in American society, the role of teaching is taken to be only for examinational purposes and not gaining knowledge to help the young learner cope with life issues like management of stress and other factors in life.

The last role of teaching across most cultures is the enlightment of the learners on the history of the learners and their country. This has served good for the learners who use the class acquired knowledge to solve some of the contemporary issues.

On top of the class work read or covered by the teacher, the learner may require to rehearse and revise the covered topic. This makes the whole process of reading to be used since the information in the book is encrypted in the book using symbols.

During class time, the process of learning usually involves four processes for it to be effective. One of the most important processes is reading. In the process of reading, the learners are able to acquire knowledge.

In conclusion, since the teacher gives the learner only a fraction of the knowledge that the learner must have to pass an examination, the learner must read (comprehensive reading for general exam revision and skimming and scanning when carrying out quick revision) for him/her to acquire the necessary knowledge required to tackle related problems.

Van Doren, C. L and Alder, J. M. 1972. How to Read a book. California: Simon and Schuster Publishers.

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 1418

This paper is created by writer with

ID 283457388

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

Tourism personal statements, cache case studies, packing case studies, punch case studies, triangle case studies, disposition case studies, punctuation case studies, fundraising case studies, folk case studies, intuition case studies, spell case studies, research paper on quality management, example of critical thinking on united states government, essay on aging update, answers to questions essay example, mma financial essay examples, free approach to cancer care research paper sample, good name essay example 3, good ethical analysis sexual harassment in medical facilities course work example, anthropology evolution of gender roles research paper sample, people ought to have a right not to vaccinate their kids argumentative essay, good economics share of benefits essay example, free criminology essay sample, free essay about a review summary report of the scientific merit of movie quot the day after tomorrow, good example of conflicts in a rose for emily by william faulkner research paper, good example of overstock com strategy essay, education part 3 unequal childrens book essay sample, free article review on blood breath alcohol, essay on films and history american wars, peace players international course work sample, free course work on a principals responsibility for the actions of their agent, example of debate questions essay, good essay about dunkin donuts, sample argumentative essay on look at description, report on why egyptian soccer players fail to pursue soccer career abroad, free essay on data of submission, carlton essays, bedridden essays, mike trout essays, henry schein essays, cuviers essays, ciliogenesis essays, circuit city stores essays.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Many believe that reading books is a waste of time and children would be better served doing something more useful. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

• Check your IELTS essay »
• Find essays with the same topic
• View collections of IELTS Writing Samples
• Show IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

In many countries, people wear more western-styleclothes (suits and jeans) than their traditional clothes. Why? Is it a positiveor negative development?

In many countries around the world, rural people are moving to cities, so the population in the countryside is decreasing. do you think this is a positive or negative development, some believe that men and women are equal and so women are able to do any job they want. others feel that men women are not equal and therefore there certain jobs that are not suitable for women. what is your opinion, some experts belive that is better for childern to begain learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. do the advantage of this outweigh the disadvantage, as transport and accommodation problems are increasing in many cities, some governments encourage businesses to move to rural areas. do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Forgotten password

Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password.

• Poetry All Poetry Free Verse Song Lyrics Sonnet Haiku Limerick Ballad
• Fiction All Fiction Action-Adventure Fan Fiction Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Romance Sci-fi/Fantasy Scripts & Plays Thriller/Mystery All Novels Action-Adventure Fan Fiction Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Romance Sci-fi/Fantasy Thriller/Mystery Other
• Nonfiction All Nonfiction Bullying Books Academic Author Interviews Celebrity interviews College Articles College Essays Educator of the Year Heroes Interviews Memoir Personal Experience Sports Travel & Culture All Opinions Bullying Current Events / Politics Discrimination Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking Entertainment / Celebrities Environment Love / Relationships Movies / Music / TV Pop Culture / Trends School / College Social Issues / Civics Spirituality / Religion Sports / Hobbies All Hot Topics Bullying Community Service Environment Health Letters to the Editor Pride & Prejudice What Matters
• Reviews All Reviews Hot New Books Book Reviews Music Reviews Movie Reviews TV Show Reviews Video Game Reviews Summer Program Reviews College Reviews
• Art/Photo Art Photo Videos
• Summer Guide Program Links Program Reviews
• College Guide College Links College Reviews College Essays College Articles

Summer Guide

• College Guide
• Song Lyrics

All Fiction

• Action-Adventure
• Fan Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Sci-fi/Fantasy
• Scripts & Plays
• Thriller/Mystery

All Nonfiction

• Author Interviews
• Celebrity interviews
• College Articles
• College Essays
• Educator of the Year
• Personal Experience
• Travel & Culture

All Opinions

• Current Events / Politics
• Discrimination
• Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
• Entertainment / Celebrities
• Environment
• Love / Relationships
• Movies / Music / TV
• Pop Culture / Trends
• School / College
• Social Issues / Civics
• Spirituality / Religion
• Sports / Hobbies

All Hot Topics

• Community Service
• Letters to the Editor
• Pride & Prejudice
• What Matters

All Reviews

• Hot New Books
• Book Reviews
• Music Reviews
• Movie Reviews
• TV Show Reviews
• Video Game Reviews

Summer Program Reviews

• College Reviews
• Writers Workshop
• Regular Forums
• Program Links
• Program Reviews
• College Links

Importance of Reading Argument Essay

Favorite Quote: Love isn't about ridiculous little words. Love is about grand gestures.

In the last 20 years, reading has declined dramatically: in every age group, race, income group, and region. When people consider whether or not reading is important, they only consider childhood reading. While it is very crucial to read with your children, adults have just as much need to continue reading past schooling age. Adults as well as children should read any chance they get because the ability to read well is essential to function in today’s society, it stimulates the human mind, and it develops the imagination and the ability to learn new things. Everything in today’s society requires reading, from reading instructions to becoming employed. Imagine trying to do something as simple as reading the directions on a medicine bottle without good reading skills. Someone could misinterpret a crucial step and become very sick or even die. This could happen very easily today considering "46% of American adults cannot understand the label on their prescription medicine" (The Literacy Company). Getting or keeping a job would also prove very difficult. How would you look to a possible employer if you said you didn’t have very adequate reading skills? It’s likely the job wouldn’t be yours. Even something as simple as walking or driving through the city could become extremely dangerous without sufficient reading and interpretation skills. Sometimes, the capability of reading words is not enough; you must be able to understand what is written and construe them. Having others help someone who is illiterate is an option, but it is most definitely not a very easy one. They cannot support themselves and must depend on someone else to function. It would be very challenging for them to even get a job because “Approximately 50 percent of the nation's unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs” (The Literacy Company). Illiterate people won’t be able to help their children read. It may even end up that the child will start to teach their parent! Reading also stimulates the human mind. It gives us something to do besides watch television. Our brain is a muscle, and just like any other muscle in the body, if you do not exercise it, it turns to mush. Reading uses interpretation and comprehension unlike video games or television shows. When you are reading, you often pause to think about what you just read, or if you don’t understand a part, you can go back and read it again. When you watch television or listen to an audio book, even though the option is usually there, typically these are not paused. "The average reader even spends about 1/6th of the time they spend reading actually rereading words" (The Literacy Company). Stopping and thinking about things gives your mind an engaging activity and this helps improve mental health and stamina of our brains. It is actually said that “the best reading is often rereading” (Gardner 3). When reading to a child, what's a popular thing to do? Many pause and ask "What do you think will happen next?" inviting the child to explore their imagination and the story itself. Whether adults realize it or not, we do this ourselves when we read, always questioning what will happen next. Many people try to disagree with the importance and ability of reading on the human mind. Some people say that reading is a waste of time and we can do better things with our time. Reading is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Even if we don’t read books, we still read every day, and reading books only strengthens our reading abilities. Reading is one of the greatest things we can do with our spare time, as Joseph Addison so expertly said. “Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors." Perhaps one of the most easily defendable arguments is the capability of reading to develop the imagination and the ability to learn new things. Reading can help your imagination take you anywhere or let you do anything. The more your imagination grows, the more able you are to go to new places on your own, without the help of a book. You can use a book to find out about a place, and with your newly expanded imagination, you can visualize the place and go there yourself. You can go anywhere, whether there has been an extensive book written about it or not. Who knows, you may end up coming up with your own world and having to write about it. Some also seem to object to reading often because there is always something offending people. Everything in today’s world offends someone, and that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do or use it? A good library has lots of types of books for many different ages, but like Jo Godwi said, "A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone." With a book, you can travel anywhere you want, do anything you want, and talk to anyone you want. With good reading and comprehension skills, you can get good jobs, and function great in today's society. A book has the power to cause our minds to long for more information and want to read more. They grab the reader’s attention and use their magical abilities to make the reader believe whatever the words may be saying. Reading is one of the most important aspects of our lives, no matter your age.

Similar Articles

Join the discussion.

This article has 1 comment.

• Subscribe to Teen Ink magazine
• Submit to Teen Ink
• Find A College
• Find a Summer Program

Share this on

Send to a friend.

Thank you for sharing this page with a friend!

Tell my friends

Choose what to email.

Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? (These links will automatically appear in your email.)

Send your email

Delete my account, we hate to see you go please note as per our terms and conditions, you agreed that all materials submitted become the property of teen ink. going forward, your work will remain on teenink.com submitted “by anonymous.”, delete this, change anonymous status, send us site feedback.

If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. Also, if you have a comment about a particular piece of work on this website, please go to the page where that work is displayed and post a comment on it. Thank you!

Pardon Our Dust

Teen Ink is currently undergoing repairs to our image server. In addition to being unable to display images, we cannot currently accept image submissions. All other parts of the website are functioning normally. Please check back to submit your art and photography and to enjoy work from teen artists around the world!

7 Legit Reasons Why Reading Fiction isn’t a Waste of Time

Deep fiction reading allows you to slowly create a world in your mind, feel its sensory details and understand the moral and emotional value each of the characters is experiencing.

Where it is assumed that nonfiction books are your only ladder to success, I’m here to flip open your prescriptive box and change the way you view books altogether.

So, is reading fiction a waste of time?

Reading fiction is valuable for everyone. It has proven to open up your strings of imagination and broaden the way you look at the world. Fiction has the power to help you experience and grow with each book and thus improve your situations.

That said, you can never count the benefits fiction bestows upon us until you actually start reading it and seeing the change in your life. Here are 7 legit reasons why reading fiction isn’t a waste of time.

What's Included in This Post

1. Improves Imagination and Creativity

How awesome it could be in this short life you get to experience the lives of a thousand more characters.

Be it conquering the world like Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones or being brave like Harry Potter; you get to experience it all!

Fiction allows you to look at the world in a way that has never been seen before. How do you think revolutionary entrepreneurs change the world? How did Elon Musk come up with SpaceX?

In fact, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has stated that he does 3 hours of active fiction reading every day.

Think of it in this way: If you’re reading a book where you’re 15 years ahead of time, that’s when the book broadens your imagination and helps you see the true potential you have within your creativity.

Other than that, the twists, happiness, sadness, and thrill are all a part of boosting your brain’s functionality to push it out of its comfort zone. According to research done at Washington University , by experiencing fictional characters’ lives, our brains are likely to create graphic mental simulations, sounds, and movements that improve our understanding of problems and conflicts.

2. Inspires us to Do Better in Life

There are a few intangible aspects that help you excel in your personal life and professional. Often employers want their employees to have:

• Good etiquettes
• Self-awareness
• Problem-solving skills
• A vision for the future of the company
• Flexibility
• Self-discipline

Where reading nonfiction can help develop practical things to incorporate in your personal and professional life, fiction makes sure to dig deep down and set its emotional values inside your brain.

When we read fiction, our brains’ cognitive muscles sharpen, which improves personality and characteristics and develops unique qualities that you never knew you could be capable of.

Take, for example, bravery or the ability to speak up for yourself.

If you lack these essential traits, I’m sure you’ve had a hard time your entire life. Now, picture yourself in powerful characters who are bluntly doing the right things, and experiencing a life of a confident person, you can inevitably become one.

This way, you easily tackle your personality flaws to become the best version of yourself. And not to forget, developing your emotional quotient (EQ) is more likely to work by reading fiction than nonfiction books.

3. Have Empathy Towards Others

You experience different people in every turn of life.

A bossy CEO of the company you work for, an overly social spouse, or perhaps a depressed friend who doesn’t like to take any help.

By reading fiction books, you get to see inside the minds of such people and truly understand their intentions, which, in turn, will help you approach them better and connect on a deeper level.

Numerous studies have shown that reading fiction books help you put yourself in others’ shoes and engage with the characters’ longings and frustration, which forces your brain to fill in the gaps in your life and solve problems.

4. Helps to Sleep Better

Reading fiction can be a great way to escape the busy and hectic life to engross in a life full of butterflies truly. In fact, it is proven that reading for only 6 minutes a day can help put your mind at ease and relax the tensed muscles in your body.

When you’re in this state of peace, it makes it easier to have a child-like sleep.

Setting up a ritual to read a few pages of a fiction book can completely shut off the swarming thoughts in your mind so you can indulge in the magic of the fictional world. Many people have raved about reading a fictional book after an evening workout.

It helps to kill the day’s negative energy and helps you wake up afresh to start your new day with new opportunities and challenges to conquer.

5. Enhances Vocabulary

If you think you’ve been fueling up your vocabulary by watching a few Netflix series, wait till you find out how much you improve by reading a few pages of a fiction book a day.

It is true that reading books, in general, can increase vocabulary. But what elevates its effects is when you indulge yourself in a world that describes emotions and situations you wouldn’t have been able to express before.

By reading a fiction book per week, you will start to see a drastic change in how you form sentences and speak your mind. Indeed, learning from books doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around improving grammar (which is still a plus, though). People with improved vocabulary are likely to be perceived as smart and knowledgeable.

That’s not it; advanced vocabulary has the potential t o help you think of ways outside the box and form your sentences properly.

This can, then, help express your ideas, feelings and engaging with other people. Enhancing your vocabulary every day can also force your brain to workout and i mprove your overall memory.

If we specifically talk about professional life, fiction has spread its goodness there as well. Exposing yourself to a wide variety of vocabulary can enhance your poetry and writing skills. Nowadays, the way marketing and copywriting work are clearly different from how we used to do it before.

You could state a few perks and features and get overflowing leads coming into your company. However, modern-day marketing techniques are nowhere close to this. Stating the same features and perks are now perceived as uptight.

Therefore, you must always add a flair of creativity and personal touch to every copy you write. Here, the use of sensory details and showing empathy to others can play a major role.

6. Improves Relationships

The improvement is mainly the result of other benefits that I mentioned in this post. By understanding people and expressing complex feelings, you can build better relationships with the people you love the most.

This is because fiction books help you see the reality and fear that not everything goes smoothly in life.

Be it bounding with difficult teenagers, colleagues or spouses, by reading fiction you can experience the world from the eyes of different age groups, gender and personality types. This can work better if you and your friends/family start reading the same fiction books together.

It can add a challenging thrill to the overall experience, and you can later talk about the book for hours, which inevitably improves relationships with people.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can create a group chat with fiction enthusiasts and exchange reviews and stories with one another.

7. Helps you Find Yourself

It is not surprising that we tend to lose ourselves among the perspectives and convictions of others. And to be honest, it’s not really your fault.

Which other ways are possible to look at the world, right? We all think that until we pick up the first fiction book to read.

By seeing how different people from all of the world (or universe, if we are talking about fiction here), you get to view things differently and form your own perspective.

This also gives you the confidence to stand against your convictions and think outside the box. This can be one of the greatest ways to break the stereotypes and emerge with your own definitions to live life on your own terms.

Just like how characters from different novels perceive risk and solve complex problems by being true to themselves, you automatically develop a personality that looks at obstacles from unique perspectives and rise above challenges.

By doing this, you’re more likely to be seen as social and attractive, which can improve your overall self-esteem. However, where there are numerous fiction benefits, non-fiction books can always go hand-in-hand to yield utmost self-improvement. You can depend on fiction to shape your conscience and then follow the techniques and methods used by successful people in non-fiction books to implement the knowledge into action.

So, are you convinced that reading fiction isn’t a waste of time?

Related posts:

• Why Reading a Book is 20x Better Than Watching TV
• 7 Amazing Things That Will Happen if You Read Books Before Bed
• Reading Aloud Helps You Remember (But do it Properly)
• Do Rappers Read Books? Which One Read the Most?
• Who is The Darkest Knight in the DC Universe?

Similar Posts

5 Real Reasons Why Books are So Expensive in 2022

If you’re an avid reader, you will, of course, know how expensive books are. Have you ever wondered why they are so expensive? I will today answer this question for you. Once you go through the article below, it is easy to understand why are books so expensive? I will share the reasons below and…

At what age do people graduate school in Spain?

Graduation from school is an exciting rite of passage for millions of students around the world. But what age do people typically graduate school in Spain? This article will investigate the answer to this question and explore the culture around graduation in Spain. In Spain, there are a range of graduation ages depending on what…

What are some words associated with birds?

The term ‘birds’ conjures up a myriad of associations. Whether you’re an avid bird-watcher, a keen wildlife photographer, or even just an ordinary person who enjoys a good stroll through the countryside, the word ‘birds’ will likely bring to mind an array of different images, emotions, and memories. In this article, we’ll take a look…

Is it possible to scare a ghost?

The idea of ghosts has been around for many centuries, and is reported in many cultures and religions. Generally, they are believed to be non-material spirits or entities of some kind. But is it possible to scare a ghost? Is it possible to use supernatural means to repel a ghost or make it go away?…

3 Real Reasons Why People Don’t Read Books these days

Despite numerous benefits of reading books, the overall percentage of people who read books is decreasing. The majority comprises of people who don’t read books. This brings us to the essential question, why people don’t read books? Today, I will answer this question and shed light on the behavior of such people as well. Why…

  Why is Capricorn considered to be a water sign?

As one of the twelve zodiac signs in astrology, many of us have heard of Capricorn – the sea-goat – but have you ever pondered why it’s considered to be a water sign? Throughout history, Capricorn has been associated with water, in part due to the character traits typically attributed to Capricorns but also due…

Home » Readers Blog » Is Reading Fiction A Waste Of Time? Here’s What Research Suggests

Is Reading Fiction A Waste Of Time? Here’s What Research Suggests

• By Subodh Sharma

Over the last few years, I have read over hundreds of books, the majority of which are fiction. And I have experienced the amazing improvements and changes that these books have brought into my life. So, for me, it is really sad to see people even discussing on topics like ‘ is reading fiction a waste of time? ’ or ‘ should we give up reading fiction books? ’ and so on.

And I’m sure that I’m not the only one who thinks and feels this way. A survey from the National Endowment for the Arts  in 2009 found that 87% of the book readers choose to read fiction! So, are those 87% of the readers wasting their time?

Well… I don’t think so!

Reading fiction is not a waste of time. It’s true that we learn things differently from fiction than that from non-fiction books. But, nevertheless, there are many great life-lessons that one can learn from reading fiction alone. It’s just that not everyone comprehends the amazing benefits that reading fiction can bestow upon us!

However, it is also true that not every fiction book is good to read. Don’t read any book just for the sake of reading and having fun or just to increase the number of books you have read. There are many fiction books that are downright trash. They will do more harm than benefit to you.

But again, same is true for some non-fiction books as well. So, first, learn to choose good books to read . Read reviews of the books in Goodreads, Amazon, and other trusted websites and blogs before you actually read them.

Keep reading to know more about:

• Some Researches on Reading Fiction

Benefits of Reading Fiction

Here’s what some research suggests.

Many types of research have been conducted to study the impacts of reading fiction on the brain. Here are some of the important ones:

• Research at The New School in New York City has found evidence that reading literary fiction improves empathy . It improves a reader’s capacity to understand what others are thinking and feeling.
• An article, ‘ Your Brain on Fiction ’, published in The New York Times in March 2012 states many studies to show how reading fiction impacts our brain. Brain scans done during this research are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, a metaphor, or an emotional exchange between characters; all of which are an integral part of fiction books. The research suggests that stories stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life . You can read more about this research from here .
• According to a Research by the University of Sussex reading for even six minutes can reduce your stress levels by as high as 68 percent ! Psychologists believe that this is probably because when we are lost in a book, our mind is focused on reading and that little distraction from the real world and our problems into a literary world eases the tensions in muscles and heart.
• Another research by Yale University School of Public Health states that “reading books for an average of 30 min per day–say, a chapter a day–showed a survival advantage, compared to those who did not read books” In other words, it increases our lifespan . The researchers also said, “Considering that 87% of book readers read fiction ( National Endowment for the Arts , 2009), it is likely that most of the book readers in our study were reading fiction.” The researchers observed that there was a 20% reduction in mortality for those who read books , compared to those who did not. Further, their analysis also demonstrated that any level of book reading gave a significantly stronger survival advantage than reading periodicals (Newspapers, magazines, etc.)

The researches mentioned above are just a few of the many types of research that have proved the amazing benefits of reading fiction books.

People often misjudge fiction books because their benefits are not always obvious, whereas most of the non-fiction books have some direct implications and importance that looks vividly clear. It is difficult to properly quantify the benefits of fiction, which is another reason why not everyone sees value in it.

But, just because we don’t see the benefits directly, it does not mean that fiction books don’t hold any importance. Fiction is just as important a genre as nonfiction books.

Here are 10 important benefits to support the fact that reading fiction is not a waste of time:

1. Fiction is a uniquely powerful way to understand others

Reading fiction creates new perspectives and helps people to empathize with others. Individuals who often read fiction are better able to understand other people and view the world from their perspective. Besides, people who read fiction have an increased amount of emotional intelligence.

2. It broadens your imagination and enhances your creativity

Fiction can make you imagine things beyond possibility – things that would not come to your mind normally. If you are reading a book that has its plot in a magical world where animals can speak, humans can fly, or trees can walk, you don’t just read it, you imagine it!

And that can really be very helpful in broadening your imagination. Besides, the different creative plots, characters, and approaches boost your creative thinking as well.

3. It improves your memory

There are a lot of things that we need to remember while reading fiction. Name of the characters and their features, name of the places, plots and sub-plots, the sequence of events, important conversations etc. are some of the key information we need to keep in mind.

And the ability to retain these information keeps improving with the number of books that you read. As your brain learns to remember the information from the story-line, it also becomes better at remembering other things of your life

4. A child will get into reading habit more easily with fiction

If you ask a child to read a history book, how much do you think will it interest him/her?

Children often opt for fiction books when they learn to read. Fiction with an interesting story can easily capture children’s attention. This indirectly helps them to build and expand their vocabulary and improve reading speed while enjoying an interesting story.

Many of those stories even convey moral lessons which are very important to shape a child’s thinking.

5. Fiction helps you comprehend other, more difficult texts

People who read fiction have a richer vocabulary and are able to read fluently. The conversations in the books also help you strengthen your command over the language.

Your sentence formation becomes quick, better and qualitative. You rarely get stuck for lack of words. Once you have a richer vocabulary and controlled command over the language, comprehending other difficult texts and information becomes easier.

6. Reading fiction enhances our critical thinking ability

While reading, a lot of information is being processed in our brain simultaneously. It opens up many different perspectives for your brain to comprehend.

For example: If you are reading a mystery or a suspense book, your brain constantly tries to guess certain outcomes and events. It also has to relate one event to the other to make sense in the story. All this, in turn, sharpens our mind and enhances our critical and analytical thinking skills.

7. Reading fiction improves brain function

Reading fiction can significantly improve our brain functions!  Research from Emory University in Atlanta Georgia suggests that reading a powerful work of fiction can make neural changes in your brain thereby improving your brain functions!

The changes occur in the ‘resting-state’ of the brain and can last for days. Reading fiction can also strengthen language processing and helps move information into long-term memory.

8. Reading fiction helps us accept change more readily

The science-fiction books, especially those that portray future technologies and advancements, help people understand that things change and that you can live through it.

Change is all around us. Probably things change faster now than they did centuries years ago. In such scenarios, it is always better to be prepared for the change and in some way science-fiction help us do that well!

9. Reading fiction can improve your social-cognitive abilities

A recent Research in the Department of Psychology at Princeton University has suggested that reading fiction can improve individuals’ social-cognitive abilities .

Findings from neuroscience show that reading and social cognition both recruit the default network, a network which is known to support our capacity to simulate hypothetical scenes, spaces, and mental states.

The current research tests the hypothesis that fiction reading enhances social cognition because it serves to exercise the default sub-network involved in theory of mind. ( Social cognition is a sub-topic of social psychology that focuses on how people process, store, and apply information about other people and social situations)

10. It gives us joy and happiness

Finally, and most importantly, reading is a joy. It simply makes you feel happy and pleased and brings peace to your mind – something that even the most luxurious items might not provide you.

So, if you really love reading fiction books, you shouldn’t care what other people think of it. Just make sure that you avoid reading trashy fictional books. Other than that, read more and be happy!

These were just some of the amazing benefits of reading fiction. There can be many more obviously. And even after all this, if I’m told that I am wasting my time reading fiction, then yeah, I’m really happy to waste my time. At least I’m happy! And to me, that matters the most!

In the comment section below please share with us what you think. Is reading fiction a waste of time? Tells us about your experiences – good or bad, about reading fiction books. We would love to know!

Happy Reading!

7 thoughts on “Is Reading Fiction A Waste Of Time? Here’s What Research Suggests”

Reading fictions are similar to watching fiction movies. Fiction lets you enter a different life or different world whereby in your monotonous daily working life, you might never get to experience it. Fiction lets you understand about different jobs, lives, hobbies, likes, places, love, etc of others. Once your knowledge broadens, you will tend to have different perspectives about what life is about and what you want in your life. Life experiences makes one more mature, and to speed up the process, reading is another tool that does that.

Thanks for this information 🤠🤠

Honestly, i love this article. Imagine reading The Hunger games, or the Harry potter’s series or so many out there-which are fabulously interesting and planet and time dimensional transporting. Honestly fiction is the genre!

Thank you so much, I read non fiction as much as I drink water and I find that I am not creative enough. This article was truly helpful, I will look for good fiction books to read going forward.

I’m glad that you found it helpful, Marc! Keep Reading!!

Thanks for the facts! I had to write some facts down for my essay titled ” Is Reading Fiction a Waste of Time?”

“The science-fiction books, especially those that portray future technologies and advancements, help people understand that things change and that you can live through it.” Well, not really: because what they describe is pure fantasy, the lesson is inherently unmoored from reality and therefore useless. Any guidance will be speculative at best.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richardson's Books

Why Reading Novels Is A Waste Of Time [Critic Opinion]

1. introduction.

2. Reasons why Reading Novels is a Waste of Time

Reading novels can be a great way to relax, but it can also be a huge waste of time if it’s not done in moderation. Novels can be an escape from reality, but they can also be a distraction from more important tasks. Here are some reasons why reading novels can be a waste of time.

Novels can be a great way to pass the time, but they can also be a big time-waster. Reading a novel can easily take up several hours of your day, and that time could be better spent doing something more productive. If you’re trying to get ahead in life, reading novels can be a huge distraction.

Novels can be a great source of entertainment, but they’re not very practical. Reading a novel won’t help you learn a new skill or help you get ahead in your career. If you’re looking for practical ways to spend your time, reading novels is probably not the best option.

Novels can be a great escape from reality, but they can also lead to unrealistic expectations. Novels often portray a world that is far from reality, and this can lead to disappointment when we don’t get the same results in our own lives. Reading novels can be a great escape, but it’s important to remember that it’s just a story and not real life.

Reading novels can be a great way to relax and escape from reality, but it can also be a huge waste of time if it’s not done in moderation. Novels can be a distraction from more important tasks, they’re not very practical, and they can lead to unrealistic expectations. It’s important to remember that reading novels should be done in moderation and that there are more productive ways to spend your time.

a. Poor Use of Time

Reading novels is often seen as a waste of time, as it does not provide any tangible benefits. It can seem like an unproductive activity, as it does not help one to achieve any practical goals. In addition, it can take up a large amount of time that could be spent on more productive activities.

Time is a precious resource, and it is important to use it wisely. Reading novels can take up a large amount of time, as they often require a significant amount of reading. This time could be better spent on activities that are more beneficial and productive. For example, one could use that time to further their education, exercise, or socialize with friends.

In addition, reading novels can be a distraction from more important tasks. It can be easy to get caught up in the story and lose track of time. This can lead to procrastination, which can be detrimental to one’s productivity.

Furthermore, reading novels can lead to a lack of focus. It can be difficult to concentrate on the book when there are other tasks that need to be done. This can lead to a decrease in productivity, as one is not able to focus on the task at hand.

Finally, reading novels can lead to a lack of motivation. It can be difficult to motivate oneself to do productive activities, as reading novels can be a form of escapism. This can lead to a decrease in motivation, as one is not actively working towards any tangible goals.

In conclusion, reading novels can be a waste of time, as it does not provide any tangible benefits. It can take up a large amount of time that could be spent on more productive activities. In addition, it can lead to procrastination, a lack of focus, and a lack of motivation. Therefore, it is important to use one’s time wisely and to focus on activities that are more beneficial and productive.

b. Novels are Not Practical

Novels are not practical.

Reading novels can be a great way to escape reality and explore new worlds, but when it comes to practicality, novels don’t always measure up. Many people consider reading novels to be a waste of time because they do not provide tangible benefits or teach practical skills.

First, novels are often not a great use of time because the majority of them have no practical value. While some novels may teach lessons or impart knowledge, many of them are simply stories with no real-world application. Therefore, reading a novel is not a productive way to spend time and energy if the goal is to learn something new.

Second, reading novels does not usually provide any tangible benefits. Unlike other activities, such as studying or learning a new skill, reading novels does not provide any tangible rewards. It may be enjoyable, but it does not lead to any tangible benefits, such as a better job or higher salary.

Third, novels can lead to unrealistic expectations. Many people enjoy reading novels because they can escape into a different world and experience something different. However, this can lead to unrealistic expectations about the world and life in general. People may expect the same level of excitement or adventure in their own lives, which can lead to disappointment or even despair when reality does not match up.

Finally, novels can be a distraction from more productive activities. If a person spends too much time reading novels, they may miss out on opportunities to learn new skills or pursue other interests. This can lead to a lack of focus and productivity, which can have a negative impact on their future.

In conclusion, reading novels can be a great way to escape reality and explore new worlds, but when it comes to practicality, novels don’t always measure up. They often do not provide tangible benefits or teach practical skills, and they can lead to unrealistic expectations. Therefore, reading novels is not always a productive use of time and energy.

c. Novels Can Lead to Unrealistic Expectations

C. novels can lead to unrealistic expectations.

Reading novels can lead to unrealistic expectations, as readers tend to identify with the characters and plotlines in the stories. This can be especially true for young readers who are still developing their sense of self and the world around them. When readers identify with characters, they may start to view their own lives through the lens of the novel, which can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction with their own experiences.

For example, a reader may become enamored with the idea of a romantic relationship portrayed in a novel and start to expect that they will experience the same kind of love in their own life. This can lead to disappointment when they don’t find the same kind of connection with someone they meet in real life. Similarly, a reader may become enthralled with the idea of living a life of adventure and excitement, which may lead them to feel that their own life is mundane and unfulfilling.

In addition to creating unrealistic expectations, novels can also lead to escapism, as readers may become so invested in the story that they forget about the real world. This can lead to a lack of motivation to pursue goals and dreams, as readers may become content to stay in their fantasy world and not take any action in the real world.

Finally, novels can lead to an unhealthy comparison between the reader’s life and the lives of the characters in the novel. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, as readers may compare their own lives to the seemingly perfect lives of the characters in the novel.

Overall, reading novels can have both positive and negative effects. While reading can be a great way to relax and escape from reality, it can also lead to unrealistic expectations and unhealthy comparison. Therefore, it is important to be mindful when reading novels and to be aware of the potential risks.

3. Alternative Ways to Spend Time

Reading novels can be a great way to pass the time, but it is not always the most productive or practical way to spend it. There are many other activities that can be more beneficial for our physical and mental health. Here are some alternative ways to spend time that can be more productive and beneficial than reading novels.

Education is one of the most important aspects of life. It can open up many doors and help us to become more successful in life. Investing in education can be a great way to spend time and develop skills that will help us in the future. It can be done in a variety of ways, such as taking classes, attending seminars, or even reading books related to the topic.

Exercise is essential for maintaining physical and mental health. It can help to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase energy levels. Taking the time to exercise can be a great way to spend time and improve overall wellbeing. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as going for a walk, running, or joining a gym.

Socializing is an important part of life and can be a great way to spend time. Spending time with family and friends can help to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase overall happiness. It can also help to build relationships and create memories that will last a lifetime. Socializing can be done in a variety of ways, such as going to the movies, having dinner, or simply talking.

These are just a few of the alternative ways to spend time that can be more beneficial than reading novels. Taking the time to invest in education, exercise, and socializing can help to improve overall wellbeing and create a more productive lifestyle.

a. Education

Education is an invaluable asset that can open up a world of opportunities. It is an essential part of life that allows us to gain knowledge, develop skills, and become more productive members of society. Reading novels can be a great way to broaden our knowledge and understanding of the world around us.

Reading novels can help us learn about different cultures, beliefs, and values. It can also provide us with insight into the lives of people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Reading novels can also help us develop critical thinking skills and gain a better understanding of complex topics. It can also help us become more creative and imaginative, as well as develop our writing skills.

Education can also provide us with the opportunity to explore our interests and passions. Whether it’s a particular subject, sport, or hobby, education can help us pursue our interests and gain valuable knowledge and skills. Education can also help us develop our career prospects, as well as gain a competitive edge in the job market.

Education can also help us become more well-rounded individuals. It can help us become more aware of our surroundings, as well as develop our communication and social skills. Education can also help us become more self-confident and open-minded.

Finally, education can help us become better citizens. It can help us become more informed about current events, as well as develop our understanding of politics and history. Education can also help us become more engaged in our communities and develop a sense of civic responsibility.

In conclusion, education is an invaluable asset that can open up a world of opportunities. Reading novels can be a great way to broaden our knowledge and understanding of the world around us. Education can also provide us with the opportunity to explore our interests and passions, develop our career prospects, and become more well-rounded individuals. Education can also help us become better citizens and become more engaged in our communities.

b. Exercise

Exercising is an excellent way to spend your time. Not only does it help to improve your physical health, but it can also help to improve your mental health and overall wellbeing. Exercise can help to reduce stress, improve your mood, and increase your energy levels. It can also help to improve your sleep quality, which is essential for a healthy lifestyle.

Exercising doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be as simple as going for a walk or a jog, or as intense as a full-body workout. There are many different types of exercise that you can choose from, depending on your goals and preferences. For example, you could try strength training, cardio, yoga, or even a combination of all of these. No matter what type of exercise you choose, it’s important to make sure that you are doing it safely and correctly.

Exercising can also be a great way to socialize. You can join a gym or a class, or you can even invite your friends to join you for a workout. Having an exercise buddy can help to keep you motivated and accountable. You can also join a sports team, which can be a great way to make new friends and stay active.

Exercising can also help you to reach your fitness goals. Whether you want to lose weight, gain muscle, or just become more fit overall, exercise can help you to achieve your goals. It can also help to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of certain diseases.

Finally, exercising can be a great way to spend your time because it can help to reduce boredom and give you something to look forward to. Having a regular exercise routine can help to break up your day and provide structure to your life.

In conclusion, exercising is an excellent way to spend your time. Not only can it help to improve your physical and mental health, but it can also help to reduce stress, improve your mood, and give you something to look forward to. Exercising can also help you to reach your fitness goals and reduce your risk of certain diseases. So, if you’re looking for a way to spend your time, consider exercising!

c. Socializing

C. socializing.

Socializing is an important part of life and is essential for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Spending time with friends, family, and new acquaintances can help to reduce stress, build relationships, and increase overall happiness. For those who are not naturally outgoing, it can be difficult to find ways to socialize and meet new people. However, there are many activities that can be done to help foster relationships and build a strong social circle.

For example, joining a club or organization is a great way to meet new people who share similar interests. This could be anything from a sports team to a book club. Additionally, volunteering is another great way to socialize and give back to the community. It can also be a great way to learn new skills and gain valuable experience.

Another way to socialize is to attend events such as concerts, festivals, and other gatherings. This can be a great way to meet new people and explore different cultures. Additionally, attending lectures or classes can be a great way to learn something new and meet people with similar interests.

Finally, online socializing is becoming increasingly popular. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be great ways to connect with people from all over the world. Additionally, there are many online forums and chat rooms that can be used to meet new people and discuss topics of interest.

Socializing is an important part of life and can be beneficial in many ways. It can help to reduce stress, build relationships, and increase overall happiness. For those who are not naturally outgoing, there are many activities that can be done to help foster relationships and build a strong social circle. From joining clubs and organizations to attending events and socializing online, there are many ways to meet new people and explore different cultures.

4. Benefits of Reading Novels

Reading novels can be a great way to escape reality and explore different worlds, characters, and stories. It can be a form of entertainment, education, and even relaxation. Here are some of the benefits of reading novels:

1. Improved Cognitive Function

Reading novels can help improve cognitive function by engaging the reader’s mind. It can help improve focus and concentration, as well as increase creativity and problem-solving skills. Novels can also help improve memory and comprehension, as well as increase vocabulary and reading speed.

2. Improved Emotional Health

Reading novels can be a great way to reduce stress and improve emotional health. It can provide a sense of escapism and can help the reader to relax and unwind. It can also be a great way to explore different perspectives and gain a better understanding of the world.

3. Improved Writing Skills

Reading novels is a great way to improve writing skills. It can help the reader gain a better understanding of structure, grammar, and storytelling. It can also help the reader become more creative and imaginative.

4. Improved Social Skills

Reading novels can help improve social skills by allowing the reader to explore different characters and their interactions. It can help the reader understand different emotions and how to interact with others. It can also be a great way to gain a better understanding of different cultures and perspectives.

Overall, reading novels can be a great way to escape reality, improve cognitive and emotional health, and gain a better understanding of the world. It can be a great form of entertainment, education, and relaxation. So, if you’re looking for a way to escape reality and explore different worlds, reading novels may be the perfect activity for you.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, reading novels is not necessarily a waste of time. While it may not be the most practical use of time, novels can offer many benefits to readers. They can provide an escape from reality, an opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives, and a way to expand one’s imagination. Additionally, novels can help to improve one’s writing skills, increase vocabulary, and even help to reduce stress.

Ultimately, the decision to read novels or not is up to the individual. If someone is looking for a way to pass the time, reading novels can be a great option. However, if someone is looking for a more practical use of time, then there are many other activities that can provide more tangible benefits. Education, exercise, and socializing are all great alternatives to reading novels.

No matter what activity one chooses, it is important to find something that is enjoyable and can provide a sense of satisfaction. That way, one can make the most out of their time and get the most out of life.

6. References

Broudehoux, A. (2018). The Benefits of Reading Novels. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/18/the-benefits-of-reading-novels [Accessed 8 Jul. 2020].

Cottrell, S. (2020). Why Reading Novels Is A Waste Of Time. [online] Lifehack. Available at: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/why-reading-novels-waste-time.html [Accessed 8 Jul. 2020].

Lai, A. (2020). 8 Benefits of Reading Books. [online] Reading Rockets. Available at: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/8-benefits-reading-books [Accessed 8 Jul. 2020].

O’Neill, M. (2019). The Benefits of Reading for Pleasure. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/benefits-of-reading-for-pleasure-4118506 [Accessed 8 Jul. 2020].

Rief, S. (2020). Reading for Pleasure: The Benefits. [online] Scholastic. Available at: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reading-pleasure-benefits/ [Accessed 8 Jul. 2020].

The Reading Agency. (2020). The Benefits Of Reading. [online] The Reading Agency. Available at: https://www.readingagency.org.uk/adults/why-read/benefits-of-reading.html [Accessed 8 Jul. 2020].

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

• LSE Authors
• Subscribe to our newsletter

Aveek Bhattacharya

June 3rd, 2018, the case against education: why the education system is a waste of time and money – book review.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The Case Against Education: Why the Education System is a Waste of Time and Money. Bryan Caplan. Princeton University Press. 2018.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve spent a lot of time in classrooms. Ask yourself: how much of it was really worthwhile , and not just a necessary requirement for getting a useful bit of paper? In retrospect, I think I wasted hundreds of hours on things like trigonometry, crop rotation and cell biology. The specific subject matter might be different in your case, but I am sure you too spent ages on things you hated at the time, have never needed to use since and probably couldn’t remember now even if you had to. Now consider the least engaged people in those classes. Think about how much worse it was for them. Bored, confused, frustrated: how little did they get out of the experience?

That should give you some idea of why Bryan Caplan looks at the education system today and sees colossal waste. In schools and universities around the world, he sees irrelevant material being taught to uninterested students. In The Case Against Education , Caplan – Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and a prominent libertarian blogger – argues that Americans (and by implication people in other rich countries, including the UK) spend too much time in formal education.

Caplan’s central claim is that most of the benefit of education comes from signalling. That is, the majority of qualifications or degrees do not substantially increase your skills or knowledge. They do, however, ‘signal’ to employers that you have certain desirable underlying characteristics, such as intelligence, conscientiousness and conformity. By itself, signalling theory implies a radical change in perspective, portraying schools and universities as glorified human resources departments for employers. Yet it gets worse. Signalling is often positional – it marks you out relative to your peers. So as more people achieve a particular qualification, it tells us less about those that achieve it, leading to credential inflation as people need further qualifications to stand out. For example, certain jobs that might previously have needed only an undergraduate degree now expect a Master’s qualification too.

Signalling means that it is often rational for individuals to seek more education than is socially valuable. Caplan draws an analogy with a concert. If a few audience members stand up, they will temporarily be better able to see the stage. But then those around them will start standing too, with the end result that everybody is less comfortable and nobody has a better view. In the same way, as qualifications proliferate, rejecting education carries an ever-greater cost for individuals.

It is important to note that Caplan does not deny that  some education provides socially valuable skills and knowledge – basic literacy or numeracy, for example. His claim is that, in many cases, this benefit is small enough that education is not worth the time and resources it uses up.

Caplan’s solution of ‘educational austerity’ is controversial. He thinks children should spend less time in school, particularly on subjects like history, art and music. He thinks we should encourage more children to work by relaxing child labour laws. He thinks there should be fewer university students, proposing cuts to public funding for higher education.

The Case Against Education is powerfully argued, provocative but not polemical, marrying a wealth of evidence with an engaging writing style. Caplan supplements his reading of the evidence effectively with logic, anecdotes and appeals to readers’ experiences. Throughout, he anticipates and addresses objections, almost before the reader can fully formulate them. After 300 pages, Caplan’s outlandish proposals seem not just plausible but natural conclusions, whether or not you share his ideological commitments.

It is clear to me that most education does not even claim to transmit practically useful content. Rather, the focus is usually on teaching students ‘how to think’: things like evaluating evidence, logical reasoning and formulating an argument. Yet Caplan claims that even this is largely unsuccessful. He cites psychological evidence that people often struggle to apply learning to different contexts as well as studies that indicate that reasoning skills change little over the course of a university degree. Indeed, standardised tests do suggest that a large proportion of American students (perhaps as high as a third) are no better at analysing arguments by the time they graduate. At the same time, these tests indicate that on average , students’ skills in these areas do improve . Then again, this does not tell us whether these improvements survive long after students leave university, and whether they would have improved anyway had they not continued on to higher education.

The relative balance between signalling and productive education matters a lot – though, as Caplan himself recognises, it is hard to measure with any sort of precision. If you agree with Caplan that education is mostly signalling, then almost any reduction in education is a good thing. However, the more you think education meaningfully boosts skills, the more worried you should be about discouraging socially worthwhile education. Caplan’s proposals do not appear especially well targeted. Reducing public subsidies and encouraging students to drop out of school might filter out less motivated students, but it is also likely to filter out the less affluent too.

In general, Caplan could say more about the distributional impact of reducing education. His view is that the poor lose most from signalling, and he anticipates a return to a world where a costly education is no longer a prerequisite for professional success. This seems naïve: I suspect the rich would be more likely to continue to reap the benefits of education (including signalling), while the poor are shut out or forced to stretch themselves further financially without government support. However, Caplan is on stronger ground when he points out that subsidising education is a rather indirect way to help the poor – would it not be more effective to redirect the money currently spent on education towards cash benefits or more targeted social programmes?

Of course, the practical politics of this is invidious. The ‘hand up’ of education is far more popular than the ‘hand out’ of benefits. But this gets to the heart of Caplan’s project: to knock education off this pedestal. Indeed, I think the best way to read Caplan’s book is not as a practical manifesto, but as a challenge to the role formal education plays in contemporary society.

When I think about what makes me feel squeamish about Caplan’s proposed education cuts, a large part is the fear of fixing people’s destiny at a young age and writing them off too early. Yet this worry only makes sense if we think of education as a ‘one-shot’ thing that happens when we’re in our teens. Caplan is definitely onto something when he identifies the compulsoriness of education as undermining its effectiveness. A natural implication of this, in my view, is that we should move away from seeing education as a ‘use it or lose it’ opportunity for children to perceiving it as an option available throughout our lives whenever we are ready.

Caplan’s argument is also more palatable if we recognise that the alternative to education need not be work. Caplan writes compellingly, if briefly, about the importance of play – not only at school, but also at university. For many young people, university offers an opportunity to try new things, meet new people, develop their identity and mature emotionally without the responsibilities and pressures of having to earn a living. I think Caplan is right when he says this ‘carefree exploration’ represents much of the value of formal education as it stands. As well as suggesting students of all ages should spend less time in the classroom, this raises a host of further questions. Should the government subsidise this time out of the labour force? Must it be taken when people are young, or might some people benefit from taking it later? Is it fair to exclude the half of the population outside higher education from this opportunity?

In contrast to so many of the classes Caplan rails against, The Case Against Education is well worth your time if you have an interest in education policy. Even if you fundamentally disagree with its conclusions, it will challenge your beliefs and clarify your thinking.

• This blog post appeared originally on LSE Review of Books .
• The post gives the views of its author, not the position of LSE Business Review or the London School of Economics.
• Featured image credit:  Bryce Miller CC BY 2.0
• When you leave a comment, you’re agreeing to our  Comment Policy

About the author

Aveek Bhattacharya is a PhD student in social policy at LSE, where his research focuses on secondary school choice. He blogs at Social Problems Are Like Maths, and you can follow him on twitter @aveek18.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Related Posts

• Importance Of Reading Essay

Importance of Reading Essay

500+ words essay on reading.

Reading is a key to learning. It’s a skill that everyone should develop in their life. The ability to read enables us to discover new facts and opens the door to a new world of ideas, stories and opportunities. We can gather ample information and use it in the right direction to perform various tasks in our life. The habit of reading also increases our knowledge and makes us more intellectual and sensible. With the help of this essay on the Importance of Reading, we will help you know the benefits of reading and its various advantages in our life. Students must go through this essay in detail, as it will help them to create their own essay based on this topic.

Importance of Reading

Reading is one of the best hobbies that one can have. It’s fun to read different types of books. By reading the books, we get to know the people of different areas around the world, different cultures, traditions and much more. There is so much to explore by reading different books. They are the abundance of knowledge and are best friends of human beings. We get to know about every field and area by reading books related to it. There are various types of books available in the market, such as science and technology books, fictitious books, cultural books, historical events and wars related books etc. Also, there are many magazines and novels which people can read anytime and anywhere while travelling to utilise their time effectively.

Benefits of Reading for Students

Reading plays an important role in academics and has an impactful influence on learning. Researchers have highlighted the value of developing reading skills and the benefits of reading to children at an early age. Children who cannot read well at the end of primary school are less likely to succeed in secondary school and, in adulthood, are likely to earn less than their peers. Therefore, the focus is given to encouraging students to develop reading habits.

Reading is an indispensable skill. It is fundamentally interrelated to the process of education and to students achieving educational success. Reading helps students to learn how to use language to make sense of words. It improves their vocabulary, information-processing skills and comprehension. Discussions generated by reading in the classroom can be used to encourage students to construct meanings and connect ideas and experiences across texts. They can use their knowledge to clear their doubts and understand the topic in a better way. The development of good reading habits and skills improves students’ ability to write.

In today’s world of the modern age and digital era, people can easily access resources online for reading. The online books and availability of ebooks in the form of pdf have made reading much easier. So, everyone should build this habit of reading and devote at least 30 minutes daily. If someone is a beginner, then they can start reading the books based on the area of their interest. By doing so, they will gradually build up a habit of reading and start enjoying it.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Importance of Reading Essay

What is the importance of reading.

1. Improves general knowledge 2. Expands attention span/vocabulary 3. Helps in focusing better 4. Enhances language proficiency

What is the power of reading?

1. Develop inference 2. Improves comprehension skills 3. Cohesive learning 4. Broadens knowledge of various topics

How can reading change a student’s life?

1. Empathy towards others 2. Acquisition of qualities like kindness, courtesy

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

• Share Share

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

Counselling