I can't remember what famous person said it and I can't find it on the Internet. But the paraphrase is: Nonfiction builds your knowledge whereas fiction expands your mind. Very similar to yours. Maybe we are referring to the same quote? And, I would add that narrative nonfiction is more like fiction than general nonfiction.
Pragmatism is the issue. If I read non-fiction, I "learned" something. If I read non-fiction, I can be better at business or whatever. These things are true, of course, but they are not always the most important things. For me, fiction is pleasurable. But it also offers a kind of perspective-shifting that is difficult to get elsewhere. Fiction can give clothing to ideas and entrance to a worlds well beyond us. Reading widely takes time - I read a lot of fiction, poetry, theology, history, politics, and philosophy. Fiction isn't the only thing, but it has been the most central and consistent over my life.
Character driven fiction is my favorite, especially as they navigate whatever life they are living and the issues facing them. Often, these stories are based off of real world events or inspired by them. Consider a book like the Martian. It’s just awesome.
I’m a man and I’ve read many great novels, mostly British. Authors like George Eliot and Dickens can teach us so much about life. I hope others will benefit from great writers.
Chicken and egg problem: men are reading fiction less, so fiction oriented to men is not being published, so there is less modern literature to appeal to them, and round and round we go. This is sad because the whole point of fiction is to expand your perspective to a life outside of your own. It builds empathy and humanism. With a lot of men I think the culture and entry-points are lacking, while women enjoy a very robust book culture. Be the change, guys!
I’m a guy and I have learned so much from novels, novellas, short story anthologies and plays than I did reading self help books and school textbooks. My favorite genres are high fantasy, sci-fi, horror/gothic fiction, mystery, psychological thriller, historical fiction and literary fiction. P.S just finished my sixth reread of LOTR Not all guys are the same. Some love fiction and some don’t. The same can be said for women too.
Interesting. Most men in my life who read are reading a great deal of fiction. Especially sci-fi. I would have guessed male population read sci-fi more than any genre
the stats from this very video show 1 in 3 men read fiction. That's quite a lot actually, considering the huge array of entertainment options that are available now. The title 'men overwhelmingly don't read fiction' is totally misleading.
Lots of men are reading fiction, I have an online book club (podcast) and love reading. Historical fantasy/fiction is a good bridge for those who only read non-fiction.
I recently began reading fiction this year, and I’m thoroughly hooked. I wish I had started reading it sooner. I’ve just finished Dune and am now engrossed in The Stand. Fiction is here to stay.
My hesitation to fiction books goes back to middle school. When you get something out of the book different than what the teacher wanted you to. Our school did Accelerated Reader and I had trouble with the multiple choice quizzes where they picked out a specific part of the book you did not remember.
I agree completely, and I'm female. It came off as so patronizing. Men's and women's brains (generally speaking) are not the same. There are real, hard-wired, visible biological brain differences. If men aren't as drawn to fiction, there are likely very valid reasons for that. Lining the men up and pressuring them into reading books that a woman has picked out for them is just as insulting, IMO, as lining women up and pressuring them into reading non-fiction that a man has chosen for them. Preferring non-fiction or fiction isn't an error for others to fix from on high, but a preference to understand. There's an irony in everyone here saying fiction "builds empathy" while they applaud their fellow fiction lover's failure to empathize with someone else's personal preferences. But that whole empathy building claim is about CHILDREN anyhow! 🙄
Yes they do. Graphic novels can be just as developed as full on novels. Read all 43 volumes of Kentaro Miura's BERSERK. Guaranteed ALL THE FEELS EDIT: I cried.
I work in a think tank. My days are filled with reading reports on national security and defense capabilities. When I get home, I want something that touches me emotionally. Thrillers are ok, but too close to my day job (i.e., Clancy, etc...). Some good mysteries here and there. Unfortunately, not many romance books for men, written from a male POV. I have found a few authors and genres I like, but it is a struggle to find the sweet spot. Therefore, I have taken to writing my own fiction. Books I want to read. Two novels published so far. Something I hope to continue once I retire.
I'm a man who reads both non-fiction and fiction. When it comes to fiction, I love reading historical fiction❤. One of the best novels I read this year was "THE TROUBLE WITH YOU" by Ellen Feldman. Fiction suits me well because I have a lively imagination. 😊
I can’t take anyone seriously that says they mostly read classics. That just means they only like them because they’re told they’re good. If you ask them to be critical of these titles, they fall apart.
Nonfiction is for those who want to affect being knowledgeable as nonfiction affects that it conveys true information about reality. Often these people state they don't read fiction as they believe the category does not convey any information about reality.
My second son never reads fiction. His vocabulary was and has been off the charts because of all the nonfiction he reads. It’s not a bad thing. At least they are reading.
Ishmael-Daniel Quinn. The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho. The Road-Cormac Mccarthy. Dune-Frank Herbert. The Foundation Series-Isaac Asimov. Game of Thrones- George RR Martin. A Wizard of Earthsea- Ursula K. Le Guin. The Metabarons- Jodorowsky & Gimenez. Berserk-Kentaro Miura. Vinland Saga-Makoto Yukimura. Vagabond- Takehiko Inoue. This is a list of both standalone fiction and series consisting of novels, graphic novels/manga but each is mature. All of them have something of value and meaning. Each of these I personally recommend to any man. It doesn’t matter if its, manga, fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian, each has left a permanent mark upon my mind, and soul. There is depth and emotion to each in their own respective ways. Some are way more action oriented than others. Regardless I urge my fellow men to read fiction.
My favorite authors can make me gasp when a twist happens, my favorite authors can send me to places I’ve never been and describe the beauty so I can see it in my minds eye, my favorite author can transfer me to another time. There is still history but it is personalized. It tells the story of a people through characters you grow to love. One of the best books I’ve ever read was The island of the sea women by Lisa See. It is written with history in mind on Jeju island in Korea which is a unesco world site yet it places characters in the story that you fall in love with. There was recently a documentary about this island and how the sea women are growing older and there are not many to take their place. That is what fiction can do. Tell history with vivid characters that transport you there.
Noted that a) they never mentioned the name of the study in the segment, b) only picked men in their early 30s, and c) never mentioned comic books or graphic novels. There's a lot missing to this piece that's promoting itself as insightful journalism.
Judging from this segment, the answer seems to be that they're intellectually lazy. Eschewing fiction is the flipside of not exercising, just not as outwardly apparent.
@@nathanmarone 0:52 “I think, with non-fiction, you can take it at face value. But with fiction, it’s a new way of sort of interpreting things. It kind of questions how you think about the world around you, and I think sometimes that’s great, and that’s why I like reading fiction. But sometimes at the end of the day it’s _easier_ just to, like, read something that’s a little bit more straightforward.” One of them actually says it outright, and these guys are pretty well put together.
Nonfiction can be just as horrible. Ill-present facts, cherry picking, everything that can be wrong with scientific research can be written or have flaws in nonfiction books.
As a man, i love reading fiction more than non-fiction. I don't think reading should become a case of social construct or a discussion point on which one is better & more-fulfilling than the other. I love reading fiction because i'm always in love with stories & the art of how the story is told. Non-fiction in the case of memoirs & true crime books is also my go-to as it follows a similar pattern albeit a different approach and intention. I also enjoy myself reading non-fiction on topics that pique my interest like nature, mental health, language & seldomly sports. I mostly read non-fiction to widen my knowledge on certain topics or to learn more information on it to gain better understanding for both individual pleasure or academic-related purposes. Both fiction & non-fiction may orbit on more differences in needs & fulfillment than it is with similarities but one constant thing that reading will do & will always do is widening your knowledge & understanding on something in more than just one perspective. Fiction encourages the readers to synthesize what they read & implement the values gained into their personal lives it also trains an individual to develop empathy towards these fictional characters as well as bridge understanding on these characters' actions. Non-fiction also encourages readers to gain knowledge & values into their personal lives but it works in a pretty different way than fiction (sometimes pretty similar too). Reading should be a personally fulfilling experience for everyone & the choices in reading material (especially categories) should never be dictated or reduced towards what the societal expectations ought for you to do. You know what speaks for you & what you look for in your reading journey. Others hold no rules for what is right for you ❤
The fiction publishing domain is female dominated by a ratio of 3:1 in the executive space, 4:5 in the publisher/editing space, and 3:5 in the authorship space. The major best seller lists are all female dominated at a 4:5 ratio. There is no question why men are not reading fiction as much in the modern era, fiction wants nothing to do with male readers. In the creative writing and publishing space, as well as the US MFA program space, men - particularly white men - have almost been completely squeezed out.
Funny how you equate being female-dominated with offering nothing for men. Women, on the other hand, have been reading male authors for decades. Maybe take your bias off and pick up a book.
Fiction is awesome, well, good fiction anyway. Side note: men are usually more receptive to book suggestions when the suggestions come from other men. Men and women are different.
@@Mike-x5u7h - NONSENSE. Non-fiction itself can be used as a way of promoting propaganda for readers who partake of it. Fiction - in particular, reading novels and short stories - frees up the imagination, stirs the emotions, and encourages creativity.
I recently got back into reading rhis year and I don't have a nonfiction book. When I read, I want to gain knowledge and be inspired. To get my mind into a fictional realm so to speak, I use video games and movies to tap into that side of my brain, if that counts. Lol
I'm a man and nearly only read fiction especially Short Stories. Lucia Berlin is hands down my favorite writer. Most fiction is not really fiction but based on the author's life experience.
You can't underestimate the draw of video games that are taking a large percentage of men who probably would read if they didn't exist. Plus, you probably aren't going to see the types of stuff most guys would read on the shelf unless you go looking for it specifically. I read a lot and only recognized one book at Target the other day. The rest wasn't stuff I'd read.
"The Gods of Gotham" sounds like it could be very similar to Dennis Lehane's "The Given Day" (but set in early 20th century Boston). Lehane's book is part of a trilogy, but the first novel can be read as a stand alone.
not reading fiction is crazy. Who doesn't enjoy a good story? why should it matter whether its real or not? Its okay guys I read enough for quite a few of you.
My family would just laugh in my face if I recommended them a book. I hope my son grows up with the love for reading like me! 😩😭 The only two people in my family who loved reading as much as myself are sadly gone. RIP abuelo and my cousin ❤️
This was...terrible. This was horribly banal, uninspiring, and frankly condescending. Was this supposed to be journalism or some kind of bizarre hit piece meant to shame men? From the music to the graphics to the pacing of the 'interviews', this was just...bizarre.
I'm not sure that only reading non-fiction is a gender specific affectation; but I think some people simply do not have the ability to form a picture in their minds as they're reading. For some of us, reading a book is the same as watching a movie - full of sights, sounds, smells and fully engages all our senses. For others, its a very flat and one dimensional experience because all our brains function differently I guess. Just my two cents.
but do they only watch documentaries? I doubt it - so why is reading only nonfiction, but other media is fiction? strange. methinks they just don't like reading at the core of it.
I only read scifi and fantasy non-fiction, and even that it's about 90% lousy an 10% worth reading. And direct publishing on Amazon from an unknown author I like better than big name authors 90% of the time.
I gave four stars to Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, as a guy that typically reads huge epic fantasy. I liked it. I found the violence to be far more shocking than the spice. I hope to read Iron Flame before the third comes out this winter.
I read voraciously, but I read at my pace. I am not a speedy reader, but I remember EVERYTHING that happened in what I read recently. I don't join bookclubs because I would have to read a lot faster to keep up. My wife always says she can read a book and then two or three days later she can re-read it and it is like a new book, because she doesn't retain it long-term. I actually tend to gravitate (no pun intended) toward Sci-fi and Epic Fantasy novels, especially older stuff from the '70s - '90s. I also love Gothic Horror, like Dracula, Carmilla, and stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Clark Ashton Smith, and Algernon Blackwood. When publishers start balancing the scales back the other way, to include teen boys and young men in their Book marketing, I think the perception that men don't read will feel less like truth. In my experience, a lot of guys I know read things that build their practical skills and knowledge, like tech manuals, cookbooks, auto-repair guides, home repair books, and books about current events in World economy and politics. They don't have time for leisure reading (Fiction) if they work all the time.
Many of you just hate women and think we're getting something you're not yet Nobel prize for lit go to men, most prizes like the booker go to men, men are seen as the greats of fiction writing bar Virginia Woolf, Austen, the Brontes, Shelley and Margaret Atwood and there are tons of male authors out there dominating every genre of fiction. Publishing really doesn't pander to women like you think. The publishing houses don't deliver pink boxes wrapped in pink bows to our houses like reading fairies. Booktok isn't publishing. That's where I see these authors like Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J Maas being pushed, by ordinary readers. There's no conspiracy to stop men reading the tons of fiction written by other men every month of the year. If you want to read fiction, you will.
I loved fiction when I was in my 20's and 30's but now I prefer non-fiction [history, science, bio] and poetry. Of the last 50 books I read only 4 were fiction, 27 were non-fiction and 19 were poetry. I'm just more engaged by non-fiction. Poetry I read for the aesthetics of language.
We go through phases in life. What got me back into fiction as an older adult was a need to “catch up” with great fantasy books I had missed out. Fantasy is currently going through a renaissance period, in our post Game of Thrones culture, and it has inspired many great modern writers in the genre. So, I am excited!
Honestly non-fiction is usually more fun to read. Fiction is often dense and difficult to read. Non-fiction is just more entertaining. I think what they are saying in this video is relevant. I don't empathize with most fiction characters so I'm boring. Laugh out loud? There's only one book series that has ever been that funny to me. I will say that YA fiction tends to be much better than most adult fiction at actually telling a story worth reading. Who wants to read about people you don't like and don't understand doing things you don't care about in the real world?
Ironic because I can read fiction 3x as fast as nonfiction. That’s just your subjective experience that you limit on yourself by deciding not to read both.
PSA: listening to an audiobook is NOT the same as reading. Yes, you will be able to discuss the book. Yes, you have to use your brain to listen. However, you are literally being read to. You are not using your own eyes to digest and interpret the information on the page. You are not using that internal voice in your head to read the novel. You are also open to distractions. You can listen to an audiobook and clean, drive, etc., so your devotion is not fully on the novel.
My dyslexia refuses to cooperate and let me read with my eyes. I am still able to be engaged in knowledge without being gatekept by my physical and mental limitations
@@markgarcia8253always some dude talking about gatekeeping. It’s like driving or being driven in a car, yeah u get to the same destination but the experience is different. They are different and no amount of inclusivity will change that for you, sorry brother
@@Aypher I mean, a person in a wheelchair wouldn’t say “I’m going to go for a walk” if they are going outside. I always wonder why audiobook people say “I read ____”, when they really should say “I listened to ____”.
Though I don't generally listen to novels on audiobook, because too much depends on the reader's interpretation, it still counts. I read books to my kids. And they can recall the stories and talk about them with depth and reflection. Sure, they are not in the process of decoding the printed page, but otherwise they are engaging the story and using their imaginations as they would if they were decoding. I can be distracted while reading printed work. In fact, when I listen to non-fiction audiobooks while I take a walk, I find it easier to focus on the work than when I'm reading a fiction work while sitting on a park bench.
It's my first time to see and hear guys. You rarely get a day to day chance. I'm so glad this channel is doing this. About men. Who don't read. That's somethings you don't see everyday. Keep up the good work! Next, do men who don't drink from straws.
Relax, it's not anti men. It's just that women are more likely to read books than men especially in the case of fiction. The video was just trying to get men who generally don't like fiction to give it another chance. Obviously not every guy on the planet hates fiction, it's just that a lot haven't tried it or haven't found the genre of fiction they'd enjoy. Also I think this is specifically speaking about the reading habits of American men and not men as a whole but I'm not sure.
@jennxox1111 they used their imagination to denigrate men. So yes, it's anti men bs. Im a feminist, but I'm not for bashing men, women, or those who are nonbinary.
Frankly, reducing fictional stories to "escapism" is ignorant and myopic. They can be so much more than that. Stories are fundamental to the human experience.
I get that. But there’s some better movies than others and the same goes with books. I would argue that a great book sticks with you in a personal manner that only a few of the greatest movies can. All of this is subjective of course
Oh, come on. I'm a man and I read fiction all the time, such as NBC's reporting on the lab leak, the effectiveness of wearing masks, Covid origins, the laptop, the border crisis, inflation.
3 men is a really small sample size.
And Amor Towles is an acquired taste, perhaps not for a general audience.
what do you mean 3 men aren’t an overwhelming majority? 😂
Nonfiction = Knowledge. Fiction = Wisdom
Lots of wisdom in goosebumps and got.
Because war and peace has no wisdom
This comment = senseless
Actually you could also gain knowledge in fiction.
I can't remember what famous person said it and I can't find it on the Internet. But the paraphrase is:
Nonfiction builds your knowledge whereas fiction expands your mind.
Very similar to yours. Maybe we are referring to the same quote?
And, I would add that narrative nonfiction is more like fiction than general nonfiction.
Fiction is so good for creativity and empathy. Not reading fiction is crazy.
Fictions are for fools.
Fiction is dumb, anybody can make stuff up.
Pragmatism is the issue. If I read non-fiction, I "learned" something. If I read non-fiction, I can be better at business or whatever. These things are true, of course, but they are not always the most important things. For me, fiction is pleasurable. But it also offers a kind of perspective-shifting that is difficult to get elsewhere. Fiction can give clothing to ideas and entrance to a worlds well beyond us. Reading widely takes time - I read a lot of fiction, poetry, theology, history, politics, and philosophy. Fiction isn't the only thing, but it has been the most central and consistent over my life.
Character driven fiction is my favorite, especially as they navigate whatever life they are living and the issues facing them. Often, these stories are based off of real world events or inspired by them.
Consider a book like the Martian. It’s just awesome.
The payoff from reading fiction is not as immediately obvious. Fiction develops the human person. It's an investment.
I’m a man and I’ve read many great novels, mostly British. Authors like George Eliot and Dickens can teach us so much about life. I hope others will benefit from great writers.
Good for you!
Chicken and egg problem: men are reading fiction less, so fiction oriented to men is not being published, so there is less modern literature to appeal to them, and round and round we go.
This is sad because the whole point of fiction is to expand your perspective to a life outside of your own. It builds empathy and humanism. With a lot of men I think the culture and entry-points are lacking, while women enjoy a very robust book culture. Be the change, guys!
clap spam button
@@guyfierimtwi ...do what now?
@@artlesscalamity Basically...
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I think your response was great!
I mean there are a bunch of fiction books out there with men as main characters. You just have to look for them.
@@gabrielperez5193 I read the alex rider series but romance will never appeal to men.
“First you have to teach us how to read” had me chuckling
I’m a guy and I have learned so much from novels, novellas, short story anthologies and plays than I did reading self help books and school textbooks. My favorite genres are high fantasy, sci-fi, horror/gothic fiction, mystery, psychological thriller, historical fiction and literary fiction.
P.S just finished my sixth reread of LOTR
Not all guys are the same. Some love fiction and some don’t. The same can be said for women too.
Harris voters love fiction.
Interesting. Most men in my life who read are reading a great deal of fiction. Especially sci-fi. I would have guessed male population read sci-fi more than any genre
Agreed.
the stats from this very video show 1 in 3 men read fiction. That's quite a lot actually, considering the huge array of entertainment options that are available now. The title 'men overwhelmingly don't read fiction' is totally misleading.
Lots of men are reading fiction, I have an online book club (podcast) and love reading. Historical fantasy/fiction is a good bridge for those who only read non-fiction.
I recently began reading fiction this year, and I’m thoroughly hooked. I wish I had started reading it sooner. I’ve just finished Dune and am now engrossed in The Stand. Fiction is here to stay.
I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King earlier this year. It was so good!
@@dontdoit6986 that's on my list too!
Ishmael- daniel quinn. The alchemist-Paulo Coelho
My hesitation to fiction books goes back to middle school. When you get something out of the book different than what the teacher wanted you to. Our school did Accelerated Reader and I had trouble with the multiple choice quizzes where they picked out a specific part of the book you did not remember.
why does this feel so condescending
I agree completely, and I'm female. It came off as so patronizing. Men's and women's brains (generally speaking) are not the same. There are real, hard-wired, visible biological brain differences. If men aren't as drawn to fiction, there are likely very valid reasons for that. Lining the men up and pressuring them into reading books that a woman has picked out for them is just as insulting, IMO, as lining women up and pressuring them into reading non-fiction that a man has chosen for them. Preferring non-fiction or fiction isn't an error for others to fix from on high, but a preference to understand. There's an irony in everyone here saying fiction "builds empathy" while they applaud their fellow fiction lover's failure to empathize with someone else's personal preferences. But that whole empathy building claim is about CHILDREN anyhow! 🙄
Thought the same thing.
Interviewer used to be an elementary school teacher; she talks to them like they're little kids
Those men are 1000% not going to read the books recommended 😂
Sci fi is great, the Dune series, Foundation etc…
The Expanse!
Hey Jenna, do comic books count?! 😉
I was thinking the same thing 😂
Yes they do. Graphic novels can be just as developed as full on novels. Read all 43 volumes of Kentaro Miura's BERSERK. Guaranteed ALL THE FEELS
EDIT: I cried.
@@shareofmoneysame, sir! 😀
Yes they do
I work in a think tank. My days are filled with reading reports on national security and defense capabilities. When I get home, I want something that touches me emotionally. Thrillers are ok, but too close to my day job (i.e., Clancy, etc...). Some good mysteries here and there. Unfortunately, not many romance books for men, written from a male POV. I have found a few authors and genres I like, but it is a struggle to find the sweet spot. Therefore, I have taken to writing my own fiction. Books I want to read. Two novels published so far. Something I hope to continue once I retire.
I read exclusively fiction.
I'm a man who reads both non-fiction and fiction. When it comes to fiction, I love reading historical fiction❤. One of the best novels I read this year was "THE TROUBLE WITH YOU" by Ellen Feldman. Fiction suits me well because I have a lively imagination. 😊
Fellas, pick up the Expanse series. 9 (almost 20) books of realistic science fiction.
Big gun ship battles and believable interplanetary politics.
For real, I am screaming at this video that the fantasy and sci-fi genre is incredible right now.
The Expanse is great. Scifi for adults.
I will need to try this series. I am reading Fred Hughes Prince of Britannia series. Pretty good.
I can’t take anyone seriously that says they mostly read classics. That just means they only like them because they’re told they’re good. If you ask them to be critical of these titles, they fall apart.
Nonfiction is for those who want to affect being knowledgeable as nonfiction affects that it conveys true information about reality. Often these people state they don't read fiction as they believe the category does not convey any information about reality.
Can't imagine a world without Cormac McCarthy "The Border Trilogy". Looking forward to years of rereads!!
You had me at classic novels
"Go to your independent bookstore"
You're what?
My brother only reads nonfiction. I never thought about that until now. 😂
My second son never reads fiction. His vocabulary was and has been off the charts because of all the nonfiction he reads. It’s not a bad thing. At least they are reading.
Where's the Nabokov?
Just be happy they're reading.
Super interesting! I have also found that a lot of my male acquaintances tend to enjoy nonfiction more than fiction!!
Ishmael-Daniel Quinn.
The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho.
The Road-Cormac Mccarthy.
Dune-Frank Herbert.
The Foundation Series-Isaac Asimov.
Game of Thrones- George RR Martin.
A Wizard of Earthsea- Ursula K. Le Guin.
The Metabarons- Jodorowsky & Gimenez.
Berserk-Kentaro Miura.
Vinland Saga-Makoto Yukimura.
Vagabond- Takehiko Inoue.
This is a list of both standalone fiction and series consisting of novels, graphic novels/manga but each is mature. All of them have something of value and meaning. Each of these I personally recommend to any man. It doesn’t matter if its, manga, fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian, each has left a permanent mark upon my mind, and soul. There is depth and emotion to each in their own respective ways. Some are way more action oriented than others. Regardless I urge my fellow men to read fiction.
Tom clancy, Lee child, dan brown... come on
Gods of gotham was good. Timothy wilde was a good character
Alot of men read fiction I myself haven't read a single book that's nonfiction going only by what 3 guys say is a bad example
My favorite authors can make me gasp when a twist happens, my favorite authors can send me to places I’ve never been and describe the beauty so I can see it in my minds eye, my favorite author can transfer me to another time. There is still history but it is personalized. It tells the story of a people through characters you grow to love.
One of the best books I’ve ever read was The island of the sea women by Lisa See. It is written with history in mind on Jeju island in Korea which is a unesco world site yet it places characters in the story that you fall in love with.
There was recently a documentary about this island and how the sea women are growing older and there are not many to take their place.
That is what fiction can do. Tell history with vivid characters that transport you there.
Noted that a) they never mentioned the name of the study in the segment, b) only picked men in their early 30s, and c) never mentioned comic books or graphic novels. There's a lot missing to this piece that's promoting itself as insightful journalism.
As a woman who almost always reads non-fiction, I always felt the odd one for being the only girl who reads non-fiction in the office.
Judging from this segment, the answer seems to be that they're intellectually lazy. Eschewing fiction is the flipside of not exercising, just not as outwardly apparent.
I think they are just more pragmatic in their approach to reading, not lazy.
@@nathanmarone 0:52 “I think, with non-fiction, you can take it at face value. But with fiction, it’s a new way of sort of interpreting things. It kind of questions how you think about the world around you, and I think sometimes that’s great, and that’s why I like reading fiction. But sometimes at the end of the day it’s _easier_ just to, like, read something that’s a little bit more straightforward.”
One of them actually says it outright, and these guys are pretty well put together.
To be fair, fiction is basically like watching a movie or long tv series. Some of it can be great. Some can be terrible.
Nonfiction can be just as horrible. Ill-present facts, cherry picking, everything that can be wrong with scientific research can be written or have flaws in nonfiction books.
@@uter Sure, but that's not lazy. If you are actively trying to learn something or to improve yourself through reading, you can hardly be called lazy.
As a man, i love reading fiction more than non-fiction. I don't think reading should become a case of social construct or a discussion point on which one is better & more-fulfilling than the other. I love reading fiction because i'm always in love with stories & the art of how the story is told. Non-fiction in the case of memoirs & true crime books is also my go-to as it follows a similar pattern albeit a different approach and intention. I also enjoy myself reading non-fiction on topics that pique my interest like nature, mental health, language & seldomly sports. I mostly read non-fiction to widen my knowledge on certain topics or to learn more information on it to gain better understanding for both individual pleasure or academic-related purposes. Both fiction & non-fiction may orbit on more differences in needs & fulfillment than it is with similarities but one constant thing that reading will do & will always do is widening your knowledge & understanding on something in more than just one perspective. Fiction encourages the readers to synthesize what they read & implement the values gained into their personal lives it also trains an individual to develop empathy towards these fictional characters as well as bridge understanding on these characters' actions. Non-fiction also encourages readers to gain knowledge & values into their personal lives but it works in a pretty different way than fiction (sometimes pretty similar too). Reading should be a personally fulfilling experience for everyone & the choices in reading material (especially categories) should never be dictated or reduced towards what the societal expectations ought for you to do. You know what speaks for you & what you look for in your reading journey. Others hold no rules for what is right for you ❤
I make my husband read fiction. His body, my choice. Forever.
As a writer, this video truly saddens me.
I love my fiction idgaf
The fiction publishing domain is female dominated by a ratio of 3:1 in the executive space, 4:5 in the publisher/editing space, and 3:5 in the authorship space. The major best seller lists are all female dominated at a 4:5 ratio. There is no question why men are not reading fiction as much in the modern era, fiction wants nothing to do with male readers. In the creative writing and publishing space, as well as the US MFA program space, men - particularly white men - have almost been completely squeezed out.
Funny how you equate being female-dominated with offering nothing for men. Women, on the other hand, have been reading male authors for decades. Maybe take your bias off and pick up a book.
@ just quoting NPR and their stats on the female-dominated fiction literature space.👍
Fiction is awesome, well, good fiction anyway. Side note: men are usually more receptive to book suggestions when the suggestions come from other men. Men and women are different.
Non-fiction = learning through information
Fiction = learning through imagination.
Fiction is just a way to propagandize while your guard is down and are more susceptible.
@@Mike-x5u7h - NONSENSE. Non-fiction itself can be used as a way of promoting propaganda for readers who partake of it.
Fiction - in particular, reading novels and short stories - frees up the imagination, stirs the emotions, and encourages creativity.
All the Colors of the Dark sounds amazing!! The Last Detective too!! 💙
My mom love classic novels including Stephen King.
As a man who just got into reading this year I can say I too do not read fiction books lol
I would truncate that headline to … "Men, overwhelmingly, don't read."
I recently got back into reading rhis year and I don't have a nonfiction book.
When I read, I want to gain knowledge and be inspired.
To get my mind into a fictional realm so to speak, I use video games and movies to tap into that side of my brain, if that counts. Lol
Have you read Mistborn? It has a hard magic system with known rules very similar to a video game.
I'm a man and nearly only read fiction especially Short Stories. Lucia Berlin is hands down my favorite writer. Most fiction is not really fiction but based on the author's life experience.
You can't underestimate the draw of video games that are taking a large percentage of men who probably would read if they didn't exist. Plus, you probably aren't going to see the types of stuff most guys would read on the shelf unless you go looking for it specifically. I read a lot and only recognized one book at Target the other day. The rest wasn't stuff I'd read.
I’m a man and I almost exclusively read fiction.
You still learn from fiction, and it helps you improve your own sentence structure and grammar
"The Gods of Gotham" sounds like it could be very similar to Dennis Lehane's "The Given Day" (but set in early 20th century Boston). Lehane's book is part of a trilogy, but the first novel can be read as a stand alone.
not reading fiction is crazy. Who doesn't enjoy a good story? why should it matter whether its real or not? Its okay guys I read enough for quite a few of you.
I prefer fiction. I do like history, but I can't stand self-help or financial books. My dad, however, only reads non-fiction.
42 yo male. I read 75-100 books a year. Maybe 5 are non fiction
My family would just laugh in my face if I recommended them a book. I hope my son grows up with the love for reading like me! 😩😭 The only two people in my family who loved reading as much as myself are sadly gone. RIP abuelo and my cousin ❤️
I just can’t take her voice, holy man
This was...terrible. This was horribly banal, uninspiring, and frankly condescending. Was this supposed to be journalism or some kind of bizarre hit piece meant to shame men? From the music to the graphics to the pacing of the 'interviews', this was just...bizarre.
It's morning TV.
I'm not sure that only reading non-fiction is a gender specific affectation; but I think some people simply do not have the ability to form a picture in their minds as they're reading. For some of us, reading a book is the same as watching a movie - full of sights, sounds, smells and fully engages all our senses. For others, its a very flat and one dimensional experience because all our brains function differently I guess. Just my two cents.
I feel like this is an outlier. But maybe I’m the outlier. I love to read and fiction is awesome
but do they only watch documentaries? I doubt it - so why is reading only nonfiction, but other media is fiction? strange. methinks they just don't like reading at the core of it.
I recommend "The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs."
Carson...fiction means it is a novel...inexcusable!
A novel is fiction, but fiction is not always a novel. Short stories aren’t novels, but are often fiction.
I only read scifi and fantasy non-fiction, and even that it's about 90% lousy an 10% worth reading. And direct publishing on Amazon from an unknown author I like better than big name authors 90% of the time.
I wonder if Jenna Bush reads books relating to the crimes of her father.
Too many books aimed at women now.
I read everything.
I prefer non-fiction usually unless it’s a classic novel
Love this segment and seeing Jenna spread the book rec love. If anyone wants recs from a dude/dad, hit me up!
I'm glad I'm aware of the magic of fiction!
I’m the opposite. I need to read more non-fiction.
How come romance books weren’t mentioned ??? Guys don’t read romance books ?
I gave four stars to Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, as a guy that typically reads huge epic fantasy. I liked it. I found the violence to be far more shocking than the spice. I hope to read Iron Flame before the third comes out this winter.
Wow, she sounds just like Rachel Ray.
Tom clancy,lee child have mainly male readers.this is bs
1:58 so that we don’t pronounce words like “importance” as if it’s supposed to have a soft “d” sound.
OK now ask why women don't want to do ______. Misogyny!
Why do you care what men's preferences are? Stop trying to make us women.
I love to read books like J.R.R. Tolkien
I love fiction books, especially mystery/thrilllers
I read voraciously, but I read at my pace. I am not a speedy reader, but I remember EVERYTHING that happened in what I read recently. I don't join bookclubs because I would have to read a lot faster to keep up. My wife always says she can read a book and then two or three days later she can re-read it and it is like a new book, because she doesn't retain it long-term.
I actually tend to gravitate (no pun intended) toward Sci-fi and Epic Fantasy novels, especially older stuff from the '70s - '90s.
I also love Gothic Horror, like Dracula, Carmilla, and stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Clark Ashton Smith, and Algernon Blackwood.
When publishers start balancing the scales back the other way, to include teen boys and young men in their Book marketing,
I think the perception that men don't read will feel less like truth.
In my experience, a lot of guys I know read things that build their practical skills and knowledge, like tech manuals, cookbooks, auto-repair guides, home repair books,
and books about current events in World economy and politics. They don't have time for leisure reading (Fiction) if they work all the time.
I appreciate this. Have you read any modern fantasy?
There are some great fantasy book youtubers
Many of you just hate women and think we're getting something you're not yet Nobel prize for lit go to men, most prizes like the booker go to men, men are seen as the greats of fiction writing bar Virginia Woolf, Austen, the Brontes, Shelley and Margaret Atwood and there are tons of male authors out there dominating every genre of fiction. Publishing really doesn't pander to women like you think. The publishing houses don't deliver pink boxes wrapped in pink bows to our houses like reading fairies. Booktok isn't publishing. That's where I see these authors like Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J Maas being pushed, by ordinary readers. There's no conspiracy to stop men reading the tons of fiction written by other men every month of the year. If you want to read fiction, you will.
Too much time playing video games.
I loved fiction when I was in my 20's and 30's but now I prefer non-fiction [history, science, bio] and poetry. Of the last 50 books I read only 4 were fiction, 27 were non-fiction and 19 were poetry. I'm just more engaged by non-fiction. Poetry I read for the aesthetics of language.
We go through phases in life. What got me back into fiction as an older adult was a need to “catch up” with great fantasy books I had missed out. Fantasy is currently going through a renaissance period, in our post Game of Thrones culture, and it has inspired many great modern writers in the genre. So, I am excited!
Huh? MARVEL/DC?? Helloooo. Men love fiction 😀
Also, Game of Thrones was largely a male reader audience. The geeks have inherited the earth 😂
Say what??? Warhammer 40K!
The count of monte cristo
With billions of real, gripping, diverse, educational, dramatic, and informative stories in the world, I just have no need for any fake ones.
Honestly non-fiction is usually more fun to read. Fiction is often dense and difficult to read. Non-fiction is just more entertaining.
I think what they are saying in this video is relevant. I don't empathize with most fiction characters so I'm boring. Laugh out loud? There's only one book series that has ever been that funny to me.
I will say that YA fiction tends to be much better than most adult fiction at actually telling a story worth reading. Who wants to read about people you don't like and don't understand doing things you don't care about in the real world?
Ironic because I can read fiction 3x as fast as nonfiction. That’s just your subjective experience that you limit on yourself by deciding not to read both.
31 year old ?..... 🤔
PSA: listening to an audiobook is NOT the same as reading. Yes, you will be able to discuss the book. Yes, you have to use your brain to listen. However, you are literally being read to. You are not using your own eyes to digest and interpret the information on the page. You are not using that internal voice in your head to read the novel. You are also open to distractions. You can listen to an audiobook and clean, drive, etc., so your devotion is not fully on the novel.
My dyslexia refuses to cooperate and let me read with my eyes.
I am still able to be engaged in knowledge without being gatekept by my physical and mental limitations
@ 100% understood that there are plenty of reasons to listen to an audiobook over reading. I’m glad that we have options for folks that need them.
@@markgarcia8253always some dude talking about gatekeeping. It’s like driving or being driven in a car, yeah u get to the same destination but the experience is different. They are different and no amount of inclusivity will change that for you, sorry brother
@@Aypher I mean, a person in a wheelchair wouldn’t say “I’m going to go for a walk” if they are going outside. I always wonder why audiobook people say “I read ____”, when they really should say “I listened to ____”.
Though I don't generally listen to novels on audiobook, because too much depends on the reader's interpretation, it still counts. I read books to my kids. And they can recall the stories and talk about them with depth and reflection. Sure, they are not in the process of decoding the printed page, but otherwise they are engaging the story and using their imaginations as they would if they were decoding.
I can be distracted while reading printed work. In fact, when I listen to non-fiction audiobooks while I take a walk, I find it easier to focus on the work than when I'm reading a fiction work while sitting on a park bench.
It's my first time to see and hear guys. You rarely get a day to day chance. I'm so glad this channel is doing this. About men. Who don't read. That's somethings you don't see everyday. Keep up the good work! Next, do men who don't drink from straws.
I mean, who needs fiction when real life is as interesting as it is now?
Anime community: 🐸🍵
I’m a Stephen King fiend
Huh?
It always amuses me that fiction readers are deeply concerned when others don't. Us non-fiction readers don't worry about what other people read.
Tired of these anti men bs videos.
Relax, it's not anti men. It's just that women are more likely to read books than men especially in the case of fiction. The video was just trying to get men who generally don't like fiction to give it another chance. Obviously not every guy on the planet hates fiction, it's just that a lot haven't tried it or haven't found the genre of fiction they'd enjoy. Also I think this is specifically speaking about the reading habits of American men and not men as a whole but I'm not sure.
@@jennxox1111I think she meant PROSE fiction, because … men LOVE comic books … MARVEL/DC 😀
@jennxox1111 they used their imagination to denigrate men.
So yes, it's anti men bs.
Im a feminist, but I'm not for bashing men, women, or those who are nonbinary.
I turn 60 this week and haven't read fiction books as an adult. Fiction is escapism, and I use movies for that.
Frankly, reducing fictional stories to "escapism" is ignorant and myopic. They can be so much more than that. Stories are fundamental to the human experience.
@@xenophile84 Hahahahahaha
@@xenophile84 We tell stories through movies now.
I get that. But there’s some better movies than others and the same goes with books. I would argue that a great book sticks with you in a personal manner that only a few of the greatest movies can. All of this is subjective of course
Should have interviewed Jordan Petersen
No one should ever interview Jordan Petersen...
@ 😆 Hes a bit much but I appreciate some things he says. But, yeah, youre probably right when I think back.
A lot of women read pornographic fiction compared to men. Men prefer the visual, video version.
Oh, come on. I'm a man and I read fiction all the time, such as NBC's reporting on the lab leak, the effectiveness of wearing masks, Covid origins, the laptop, the border crisis, inflation.
@@neo2190 huh?
ok... I know that I don't agree with you... but I'm gonna be honest.. that was funny!!!