Mostly fiction. Studying or working full time means I read to escape, unless it's a textbook. There are many non-fiction books I'd like to try, but I never have the energy.
Fiction has always been my preference: I started reading to find my own world to take refuge in, when I was young, and fantasy, specifically, really fulfilled that need. Escapism is the main reason I still read books. I never really got into historical biographies, however I do love a good philosophy or neurolinguistics book if I am in the mood to learn something new.
I read non-fiction on my phone at work or on the go and fiction mostly with physical books. I enjoy both and would have a hard time to decide if I could only have one.
I almost always choose fiction because I like getting lost in imaginary worlds.
Fiction before bed, non-fiction in the morning.
I consider reading a cultivating activity to enrich one's knowledge on certain topics. This is why I, like you, find myself reading predominantly nonfiction.
Fiction, however, can be utilized to disclose valuable information as much as to offer leisure. One novel I have in mind is The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, which quite explicitly tackles philosophical and social questions via the protagonists' journal entries.
Agreed. Sometimes fiction reflects reality very well, in its own unique way. I used to be a journalist, and I recall some of my colleagues wondering whether they could do more good by moving to fiction and taking on larger issues in that medium.
I'm almost always reading at least one of both, but usually two nonfiction and one fiction. Basically: have two topics for learning to avoid monotony; and have a fiction around for pure diversion.
Currently I'm working on:
Fiction:
- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (rereading)
Nonfiction:
- Solidarity Economics: Why Mutuality and Movements Matter by Chris Brenner and Manuel Pastor
- Democracy and Economic Planning by Pat Devine
EDIT: Oh yeah, I'm also listening to Wool by Hugh Howey (first book in the series the show Silo is based on)
I try to read a healthy mix of both. At any given time, I am usually reading at least one non-fiction and one fiction book simultaneously. These days I have been reading a lot of history and fantasy/science fiction.
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