I rarely read fiction.

Not because I don’t enjoy a good story, but rather because other content, like self-help books, usually provide more directly valuable insight. 

Identifying helpful changes in perspective can be a little harder in fiction when you’re drawing the connection from hypothetical situations. It’s not that value is entirely lacking from fiction it’s just not the main purpose of the books so you have to do a little more digging and cross-applying to make it relevant to the issues you’re facing. 

However, last week I was inspired by a few of the top fictional books recommended by Tim Ferris and decided to pick up two fictional titles. The first, not being on the above-mentioned list, is the widely revered classic, “How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia” by  Mohsin Hamid.

Contrary to the mass amount of hype around this book, I did not enjoy it. 

In summary, the book a novel written as a self-help book. You’d think just my cup of tea. However, the story was both a) not interesting b) did not have a good ending. Other readers left with a deep call to make the most of their lives but I personally didn’t see it.  Refusing for that to be the final taste of fiction in my mouth I decided to read “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” originally a radio broadcast by Douglas Adams.

This book provided quite the opposite experience. 

Each new chapter resulted in some interesting story, a new obscure idea like the babble fish which sits in your ear and translates any language you come in contact with, that I found myself laughing out loud and finding the clever storyline to be enthralling.

It also made me consider questions I never would have thought of before and even affected my writing by adding in a dash of a sarcasm and fun as a result! Throughout the crazy turn of events, it leaves the perspective that despite how bleak one’s situation might be, there’s always something to laugh about.

I’m enjoying reading this new content.