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Making Fiction Great Again

When was the last time you picked up a book that wasn’t about hacking productivity, getting ahead at work, or some CEO’s “life-changing” habits?

If you're sitting there scratching your head, thinking, Wait, there’s more to read than business strategy and self-help? We’ve got a problem.

Non-fiction isn’t the only path to self-improvement. In fact, if you’re exclusively stuck on how-to guides and biographies, you’re missing out on a goldmine of creativity, empathy, and mental agility.

And for designers, copywriters, developers, or anyone working in tech; fiction can be your secret weapon.

Look, non-fiction readers, I’m not saying you should stop learning from the latest tech trends or leadership books. Those have their place. But don’t fool yourself into thinking that non-fiction is the only “valuable” way to read.

Reading only non-fiction is like eating the same damn meal every day and wondering why your taste buds are numb. Where’s the flavor? The depth? The emotional satisfaction?

Let’s drop the nonsense that fiction is a "waste of time".

While you’re grinding through the latest productivity hacks, fiction readers are expanding their perspectives, sharpening their creativity, and leveling up their emotional intelligence.

Non-fiction gives you facts, sure, but fiction? It hands you insight, empathy, and a way to actually think differently.

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Why fiction matters

🔸 Fiction makes you a better problem-solver

Ever wonder why some of the best problem solvers are fiction readers?

Fiction forces you to think beyond the obvious.

Unlike business books, fiction doesn’t offer answers on a silver platter. It challenges you to connect the dots, interpret complex scenarios, and imagine new possibilities.

That creative muscle you need when you're stuck in a design sprint or brainstorming? Fiction strengthens it.

It’s like a mental workout—training your brain to see beyond what's right in front of you.

🔸 Fiction sharpens your communication

Some people suck at communication. It's all jargon, stiff, and soulless.

Fiction changes that. Fiction teaches you how to tell stories that actually resonate.

Characters aren’t just words on a page—they’re emotional, layered, and human.

Reading novels sharpens your sense of tone, pacing, and storytelling, helping you communicate better at work. Whether you’re pitching an idea, presenting a design, or even writing a damn email, those skills make a difference.

🔸 Fiction develops empathy

Tech culture can be obsessed with data and efficiency, forgetting that at the end of every interaction is a real person. Fiction doesn’t let you forget that.

It immerses you in the emotions, conflicts, and lives of others, making empathy more than just a buzzword. You feel it.

And if you’re in design, product, or any tech role where understanding users matters, empathy isn’t optional. Fiction helps you get it in ways no TED Talk or how-to book ever will.

🔸 Fiction expands your vocabulary

Tired of hearing (and saying) the same tech buzzwords over and over? Fiction is the antidote.

Novels expose you to a richer, more colorful vocabulary, letting you describe thoughts and feelings in ways that non-fiction can’t match.

It’s not about sounding smart—it’s about being able to articulate complex ideas and emotions.

If you’re a copywriter or in a role that requires strong communication, this is your secret weapon.

🔸 Fiction can be a stress buster

Tech life is fast-paced and high-stress. Burnout is basically a job hazard.

Fiction gives your brain a much-needed break.

It slows you down, takes you away from the grind of optimizing KPIs or chasing growth hacks, and lets you breathe for a minute.

It’s one of the most effective ways to unwind and lower stress. No tea break or yoga pose compares to the escape a good novel offers.

Fiction deserves more love

So why doesn’t fiction get the love it deserves? Maybe it’s because the world worships quick wins and tangible results, and fiction doesn’t scream immediate payoff.

Despite its numerous benefits, fiction often gets overshadowed by the relentless hype around non-fiction.

In a world obsessed with efficiency and measurable outcomes, fiction is dismissed as mere escapism or a waste of time.

This view is not only misguided but also limits the potential for creative and emotional growth.

Fiction’s ability to immerse us in diverse experiences, challenge our thinking, and enhance our communication skills is frequently overlooked.

By undervaluing fiction, we miss out on its unique power to stimulate imagination and deepen our understanding of the human condition.

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20 must-read fiction books

To get you started, here’s a list of 20 essential reads to shake up your routine.

It's a mix of modern hits, timeless classics, and works by Asian authors that can help rejuvenate your creative spirit.

1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
2. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
3. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
4. Trust by Hernan Diaz
5. The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
6. The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen
7. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
8. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
9. Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
10. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
11. The Maid by Nita Prose
12. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
13. Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah
14. The Trees by Percival Everett
15. Weyward by Emilia Hart
16. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
17. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
18. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
19. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
20. All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

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Want more recommendations?

Check out The New York Times' list of the Best Books of the 21st Century for even more fiction that will spark your creativity.

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