It can be easy to dismiss fiction as a waste of time, especially if you take your work (or yourself) seriously. I know, I’ve felt the same way on more than one occasion.

But when you find a book that engrosses you– the kind you can’t put down… It can be an amazing experience far beyond what a typical nonfiction book or the latest newspaper can provide.

A great piece of fiction makes you see life from a new perspective. It lights up your creative side. It takes you to a world where so much is possible, and it’s simply a matter of imagination to remove the constraints we place on ourselves.

In other words, fiction allows us to explore possibilities without the judgment of “real life” getting in the way.

Sure, read all the business books and historical accounts you like. But don’t avoid fiction because you think it won’t be valuable. That’s just an excuse to avoid the vulnerability of opening ourselves up to a new story.

Your next project, business idea, or adventure might be waiting in the pages of that novel. But you won’t know if you don’t give it a chance.

—
Thanks to Ernest Cline for the inspiration for today’s post.