Ashley Sarah Real Insights and Reflections

Tag: Fiction

  • Book Reviews for Personal Growth

    In One Ear, Out the Other?

    I remember as a student how important taking notes was. If I didn’t write it down, even on a wrinkled napkin, it wouldn’t be long before it exited my mind forever! The same is true for casual reading in some sense as well. When we take in a novel, we might leave with the whole premise as well as a couple cool details, mind-blowing connections or ah-ha moments. You leave with a feeling for sure, but then do we ever really take a moment to process our thoughts and feelings about these stories? It was not until I joined a “book club” that I actually began to see how a book could shift my thinking, sometimes quite drastically. Being able to chat about the books plot, characters I liked, disliked or why I disliked them, helped me to process the emotional responses and insights that previously would disappear as soon as my attention was on to the next thing.

    Story as Old as Time

    For all the “personal growth” books I have read, it is kind of funny that the most impactful self/societal reflections were sparked by books like “Animal Farm” “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Hiding Place”. We are all made differently, but there is no doubt that our human nature is drawn to storytelling. It is how information and history were passed down. It’s how we get across important life lessons to children (and each other). When something inspiring happens in our day, we rush home and try to express every detail through expressive words. Telling it like a story, seems to connect and relate deeper than facts, but on a level of humanness that sticks! So, it is no surprise that there are cognitive benefits in connecting literary themes to our personal experiences.

    Fun Facts!

    Research shows that critical reading and contemplating (reviewing) actually improves analytical thinking skills. Studies have shown that using comprehension strategies, develops the skill of applying higher order thinking in life, such as using careful evaluation, sound judgment, and reasoning powers (something I feel our generation might be lacking).

  • From Entertainment to Enlightenment:

    Finding Joy and Meaning in Some “Fun” Reading

    Why even beach reads and thrillers can enhance our psychological insights

    Beach reads and thrillers often get dismissed as purely escapist entertainment, but they could actually contain surprising depth and wisdom:

    1. Character resilience in thrillers models stress response – Characters that face extreme situations can demonstrate various coping mechanisms and problem-solving approaches that we as readers subconsciously absorb. Studies show we often mentally rehearse scenarios through fiction.
    2. Beach reads frequently explore relationship dynamics and emotional intelligence – Even romantic comedies set on tropical islands tackle themes of vulnerability, conflict patterns, and attachment styles in relatable ways!
    3. The “moral universe” of thrillers – These books typically establish clear ethical boundaries, allowing readers to explore complex questions of justice, moral relativism, and consequences through engaging narratives. In some well written Thrillers, they often have you sympathizing with the protagonist at least once, right!
    4. Processing anxiety through controlled fictional danger – Thriller readers experience a form of “exposure therapy”, confronting fears in a safe context that could build emotional resilience.
    5. Identity exploration through character journeys – Even seemingly simple narratives can feature protagonists questioning their life choices, values, and priorities—mirroring our own existential questions.
    6. The validation of emotional experiences – Seeing characters process grief, love, fear, or ambition normalizes these experiences and can give us emotional vocabulary that we otherwise might not have.

    Thrillers and Romance: Making Our World a Better Place

    The importance of diverse reading habits in broadening worldviews and empathy:

    Reality testing through multiple perspectives – Engaging with diverse texts helps readers understand that their own worldview represents just ONE of many valid interpretations, creating intellectual HUMILITY that improves communication between us all!

    Tricking the Brain!

    York University did a study that demonstrated that reading fiction featuring diverse perspectives trigger “mirror neurons” and “empathy centers” in the brain, increasing the ability to recognize others’ emotional states.

    The “narrative transportation” effect amplified – When readers encounter characters from backgrounds different from their own, they experience deeper understanding of the narrative, resulting in more significant attitude shifts that remain for months after reading

    “Bias reduction” through counter-typical representations – Research from the University of Toronto’s study “showed that readers exposed to nuanced characters from marginalized groups showed measurable reductions in bias scores compared to control groups.”

    Cultural Competence- Readers who engage with multi-genre literature demonstrate increased ability to navigate cross-cultural interactions in professional and personal contexts, recognizing nuanced social cues they previously missed.

    Expanded moral circle development – Diverse reading gradually extends readers’ “circle of moral concern” to include groups previously considered distant or different, influencing real-world ethical decision-making.

    All to say….

    Reading fiction, nonfiction and novels… or really reading anything at all, gives us a Sudo experience of living a cultured, diverse life. Our local library has a sign that says: “A reader has lived many lives”. But I never considered this to be psychologically true! How cool is it, that our brains can be hacked or tricked into being more diverse and understanding of things we actually never really encountered.

    Check out these Links of some recommended Beach Reads and Thrillers!

    Amazon.com : Top thriller book

    Amazon.com : Top romantic books