Literature to self-help ratio

[ArcticGong]

My bookshelf consists of mainly self-help books. However, I have contemplated that there are some great self-help lessons in literature as well. Leo's book list, which I have bought, consists of few novels or short stories I have noticed. I understand his rationale, but I think there is a personal sweet spot between work and play, fact and context, self-help and literature. 

Would you credit novels to your curiosity towards spirituality and awakening or societal issues at large? 

A personal minor awakening was inspired by George Orwell's 1984. 

I just noticed that I posted this thread on the wrong forum. The subject should have been posted on the self-actualization forum. Excuse me. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by ArcticGong

[Thought Art]

They can be very powerful, but I don't read novels often

[ArcticGong]

Short stories are also powerful too. The Bible contains plenty of short stories, which I interpret as how bad emotions would lead to bad outcomes. Cain and Abel, jealousy is bad. I don't remember them clearly, but there are a bunch of lessons in the short stories from the Bible and other books for that matter. 

[Girzo]

Aldous Huxley - Brave New World

and

Aldous Huxley - The Island

An interesting read, knowing that the first story has been written before Huxley discovered psychedelics and the second after.

[ArcticGong]

@Girzo I haven't read through Brave New World , but you are indeed right, it was pretty trippy to listen to its audio version.

 

[mandyjw]

Literature teaches in a way that less actively involves the self. It can bring to light lessons quite powerfully without getting slowed down by the wall of identification and resistance. This can be very powerful or it can result in lessons going over people's heads. Fiction also has a way of bringing desires you didn't know you had to light. Sometimes people are very sad when they end a series and leave a beloved fantasy world, not realizing they only feel sad about it because they missed the obvious fact that they never really left.  

Edited August 23, 2021 by mandyjw

[ArcticGong]

6 minutes ago, mandyjw said:

Literature teaches in a way that less actively involves the self.

Sometimes people are very sad when they end a series and leave a beloved fantasy world, not realizing they only feel sad about it because they missed the obvious fact that they never really left.
  

I like the first quote, but your second quote; is that you referring to life as fantasy?

[mandyjw]

Just now, ArcticGong said:

I like the first quote, but your second quote; is that you referring to life as fantasy?

Oh yes. My neighbor used to have a sign with arrows in all directions, pointing to famous places in fantasy books. Then they left, the house was abandoned and the weather wore all the painted letters off the sign posts. I got the message. 

[ArcticGong]

@mandyjw Good point. It almost flew passed me head to. ?