the Death of Creativity

I am quickly becoming convinced that as a society we are losing our collective imagination. I blog rather frequently on the disconnect that happens when we immerse ourselves ourselves in technology. I often wonder how creative I would be if I did not sit in front of a screen (tv, computer, or otherwise) for the better part of my day. This time though, I wish to look at it from a bit of a different angle…

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction

It’s a debate that has raged for some time in academia and literary circles, and I do not believe that we’re near seeing the end of it. Walk through any bookstore and you’ll see a plethora of non-fiction and practical application books. What you’ll have difficulty finding is an abundance of non-fiction books. Check out your local library, you’ll find much of the same. Here, without further delay, is my thesis:

Or loss of imagination and creativity is in many ways tied to our aversion of fiction books.

What is fiction? Fiction is the term used to describe works of the imagination. This is in contrast to non-fiction, which makes factual claims about reality. A large part of the appeal of fiction is its ability to evoke the entire spectrum of human emotions: to distract our minds, to give us hope in times of despair, to make us laugh, or to let us experience empathy without attachment. Fiction is largely perceived as a form of art or entertainment, although not all fiction is necessarily artistic. Fiction is a fundamental part of human culture, and the ability to create fiction and other artistic works is frequently cited as one of the defining characteristics of humanity.

Truth be told, 90% of what we read these days is non-fiction in subject matter. For our personal lives, we want advice, self-help, and 12 steps to a better future. In our careers we want to find a path to success, bullet points for getting ahead, and trade secrets from field leaders. Sadly, what we reap in return is rarely helpful and many times detrimental.

When we read non-fiction we are limited by the insight and experience of others. We become 12 steppers looking for the next great idea or insight in hopes of stealing it for our own use, abuse, and advancement. When we read fiction we allow our minds to be opened and our imagination to wonder. Fiction offers creative freedoms that allow authors to reach truths that non-fiction writer’s, constrained by facts, can’t always find.

We truly of have bought the lie that If it’s not of immediate practical application, then it’s of no use use to us. Think of the books that you’ve read recently (if you’ve any any at all). What was the last fiction book that you read???

I submit to you that you really helping yourself by immersing your mind in non-fiction. They are of some benefit, of course. But so you really wish to go through life only benitting from the insights of others? How much better it would be to allow your mind the freedom to wonder, create, imagine, and work out its own ideas.

There is a reason why most of the literary classics that have endured the test of time are fiction. Think about it.

Grab a fiction book and read it.