Powerful story with the The Road. It's hard to say "I liked that book," but it is very affecting.
I think here's a different way of describing the power of literature. Feel free to steel it:
1) Human minds are designed to operate on stories. It's how we make sense of our lives, and our brains show this optimization in part by remembering stories better than lists of facts.
2) The most powerful stories in my life are the ones I tell myself over and over again. All too often, these are informed by negativity bias. "I don't have enough," "I'm not good enough," "Other people won't be interested in what I have to offer."
3) Instead of learning that, statistically, you SHOULD tell yourself this kind of story or that kind of story, they actually allow to inhabit a different story. Like your story above: you told yourself over and over again, "I don't have enough," then you read the road, and you're dropped into a world with barely anything. Inhabiting that world allows you to change your story more than any series of facts or brief anecdotes about successful people.
And to be honest, after our conversation, I realized why self-help stories don't cut it. They exist 99% of the time to prove a point. Sure, that helps you remember the content, but it doesn't really live the impact. Perhaps, if a writer is pretty good, there will be some sensory or emotional component. You don't inhabit the character through multiple decisions, seeing the grow and development (or backsliding) at each turn, each reinforcing the new narrative.
Interestingly, this is probably why Never Split the Difference is one of my favorite non-fiction books. The extended stories of hostage negotiation really do transport me into a different world and headspace in the way chapters filled with several quick, one-off narrative illustrations don't.
I agree with this wholeheartedly and have thought this for years. Fiction studies humanity. There’s nothing we humans like more than stories. Story is the language of a human soul.
Here's a quote from director John Waters--see what you think: “You should never read just for ‘enjoyment.’ Read to make yourself smarter! Less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends’ insane behavior, or better yet, your own. Pick ‘hard books.’ Ones you have to concentrate on while reading. And for god’s sake, don’t let me ever hear you say, ‘I can’t read fiction. I only have time for the truth.’ Fiction is the truth, fool! Ever hear of ‘literature’? That means fiction, too, stupid.”
I’m catching up on your work and I think I may be becoming a J.E. Petersen fan ...
Week: made.
💥
Powerful story with the The Road. It's hard to say "I liked that book," but it is very affecting.
I think here's a different way of describing the power of literature. Feel free to steel it:
1) Human minds are designed to operate on stories. It's how we make sense of our lives, and our brains show this optimization in part by remembering stories better than lists of facts.
2) The most powerful stories in my life are the ones I tell myself over and over again. All too often, these are informed by negativity bias. "I don't have enough," "I'm not good enough," "Other people won't be interested in what I have to offer."
3) Instead of learning that, statistically, you SHOULD tell yourself this kind of story or that kind of story, they actually allow to inhabit a different story. Like your story above: you told yourself over and over again, "I don't have enough," then you read the road, and you're dropped into a world with barely anything. Inhabiting that world allows you to change your story more than any series of facts or brief anecdotes about successful people.
And to be honest, after our conversation, I realized why self-help stories don't cut it. They exist 99% of the time to prove a point. Sure, that helps you remember the content, but it doesn't really live the impact. Perhaps, if a writer is pretty good, there will be some sensory or emotional component. You don't inhabit the character through multiple decisions, seeing the grow and development (or backsliding) at each turn, each reinforcing the new narrative.
Interestingly, this is probably why Never Split the Difference is one of my favorite non-fiction books. The extended stories of hostage negotiation really do transport me into a different world and headspace in the way chapters filled with several quick, one-off narrative illustrations don't.
Can we have a writer’s club please?
What are you writing??
Mmm…narrative fiction is perhaps the best description.
Where can I read your work?
I agree with this wholeheartedly and have thought this for years. Fiction studies humanity. There’s nothing we humans like more than stories. Story is the language of a human soul.
"Story is the language of the human soul." Amen and amen. (Also, heads up: I'm gonna go ahead and use that.)
So pumped for this, it is kinda crazy.
Me too!
The Road blew my mind too!
You are so so right!
Here's a quote from director John Waters--see what you think: “You should never read just for ‘enjoyment.’ Read to make yourself smarter! Less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends’ insane behavior, or better yet, your own. Pick ‘hard books.’ Ones you have to concentrate on while reading. And for god’s sake, don’t let me ever hear you say, ‘I can’t read fiction. I only have time for the truth.’ Fiction is the truth, fool! Ever hear of ‘literature’? That means fiction, too, stupid.”
I remember reading that quote years ago! It certainly has aged well.
To quote the memetic commercial, why can't we have both?