The more you read things you enjoy, the more you’re engaging with the story and the better you become at understanding and processing what you’re reading. Reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analysis are skills that you can apply in every area of your life. I also think being exposed to different ways of thinking and writing styles helps you develop better communication skills. I find nonfiction books to be more for reference or introduction to an idea because I’m usually not going to remember most of the facts of what I’ve read down the road. However, the ways of thinking and understanding you develop from literature of any kind stays with you throughout your life.

For me, I’ve used those skills to get a full ride to law school, to go far in my career, and of course for greater enjoyment in my leisure reading.

Right? Reading a book for your own personal enjoyment isn’t a competition with the author that you have to win. I wonder where this bizarre mentality came from?