I read fiction too, and I don't consider it a guilty pleasure at all. Isn't art part of what makes life worth living? Must all our intellectual efforts be "productive" or related to our careers in some way? And even if they must, isn't well-written fiction at least as insightful about the individual and society as psychological studies are?
Of course, it's possible that I'm just a tad defensive about fiction because my dissertation was on cognitive models of literary genres. Some of my favorite novels of late: A Changed Man by Francine Prose (if one must be all psychological about it, it's about the relationship between attitudes and behavior) The Terror by Dan Simmons (don't let the "horror" designation fool you; it's historical fiction with a minor supernatural element, but mostly it's a hell of a tale about the Terror & Erebus expeditions to find the Northwest Passage) I, Claudius & Claudius the God by Robert Graves Lost and Found by Caroline Parkhurst (it's surprising, once you think about it, that no one has written a novel about reality TV before this one) American Gods by Neil Gaiman (particularly recommended for anyone with lingering Jungian tendencies) Robin Abrahams www.robinabrahams.com My first book, "Miss Conduct's Mind Over Manners," is available now on Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/bvcfzr. --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
