Should I be replacing some of the business books I’m reading with cultural fiction?
By cultural fiction I mean those dramas that are set in somebody else’s world, somebody else being anyone who didn’t have an upbringing very similar in time and place to mine. I see them at the library as I scan the “new book” shelves, generally written by someone who grew up in that culture or that country. Africa, India, Iraq, Brooklyn. They are usually dramas and the focus is on personal interaction shaped by the structure of their culture and their place in it. I’ve read a couple books of this genre here and there along the way, but if I’m only reading for pleasure then I’m more likely to pick up urban elves or a fairy tale retelling.
This idea crossed my mind after I read the book on Doing Business in 21st Century India, something I might not have normally picked up but was sent for me to review for Bookstrumpet. I still need to actually write the review but in part the book was an easy read of an introduction to another culture’s point of view. It was nice to have it laid out, but when you’re actually out interacting with people the points you need to notice aren’t so carefully laid out for you. And even someone who grew up twenty years and one block away can have a sufficiently different set of expectations as to cause confusion if you assume otherwise.
Of course, the best way to learn would be go out and meet and interact with new people and I’m certainly paying attention. But reading in this vein would expose me to new ideas, so that I would be more likely to be aware of them in person. Also, if I deliberately question and think during my reading, I will be able to practice interpreting people’s actions when I have the benefit of extra knowledge and a sense of calm in which to think. Fiction has been considered a window into others’ worlds for a long time, but I never considered it as a learning tool instead of a pastime.
At the moment there are still many business concepts that I want to learn about, so I don’t want to phase my “useful” reading to cultural fiction quite yet, but I will keep the idea in mind and my eyes aware when I visit the library. Have you learned anything from reading fiction that translated into being able to interact better or differently with real people?
Beth,
Reading cultural fiction and nonfiction can be a great supplement to business books, as can movies from that culture; I recommend "Monsoon Wedding" as a great audio-visual introduction to India. Non-business books that I recommend to my business clients include "The Namesake" for a glimpse into the Indian-American experience, "Holy Cow" for an unusual, maybe controversial look at India, " I have quoted from "Chasing the Monsoon" and May you be the Mother of a Hundred Sons" (both travelogues) in my own book, ie the one you are reviewing.
Gunjan Bagla
PS It seems that both of us were influenced by the same elephant fable
Welcome, Gunjan. You must be making effective use of Google Alerts or some other such tool! Thanks for stopping by and offering suggestions. I hadn’t thought about movies, although it’s a logical extension. Since I named my blog at the beginning of 2008 I keep seeing the fable in more places, although I’m likely just noticing it now. It definitely touches many people.
Fiction always helps me – it expands my thinking. It takes me in new directions and stirs up ideas. I like to mix up the business books with the fun stuff. And I think reading anything helps my writing. Love your site and concept!
Thanks for commenting, Geni. I’m glad you like the site. I know I’ve gotten some interesting ideas from the fiction that I do read.