posted on Jan, 7 2004 @ 04:29 AM
I hadn't read any fiction for probably 20 years, until one of my ex-coworkers wrote a novel. I read it out of courtesty to him. It was interesting,
enjoyable, and pretty entertaining. However in the back of my mind, the time spent reading it was not really productive. (I could be researching, I
could be making money, I could be....) Its the same situation when I have to attend sporting events or office parties, in order to "put in a showing
etc". However these types of events do indirectly help with the monetary side of things, as compared to reading fiction.
Getting back to the subject at hand, we had forced reading in both high school and college lit classes. I'm not really sure of the value irrespective
of the material. I do remember that we did read a lot of titles as mentioned previously.
For some it was enjoyable, and I'd say more power to them. For the many others such as myself, it was something that needed to be done with the least
possible effort, yet still get a decent grade. The one thing it did do for me was to resolve not to read fiction again unless absolutely necessary.
I'm pretty sure that was not the intent of the high school teachers or U professors.
Just another point of view from an older scientist