Just yesterday I finished the book “The Daughter of Doctor Moreau” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I’m not usually one for fantasy, but I really enjoyed “Mexican Gothic” by this same author and so I’d thought I’d give another one of her books a try. I’d say it was a success! Although I doubt fantasy will ever emerge as a favorite genre of mine, I now see why it appeals to so many people and is a top-selling genre. I’m grateful to a short-lived, pre-pandemic book club for requiring me to read “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo to set me on my fantasy journey.
Why share any of this? I worry that many early career researchers feel compelled (even required?) to limit their reading to nonfiction works closely aligned with their research interests. I know I did! I wore my “Down with Fiction!” badge with honor and thought it commendable that I limited my range of literary exploration to those books that intersected with my research questions at the time. Yet, we do ourselves a disservice when we close ourselves off to literary worlds just because they don’t “mesh” with a research topic and may get in the way of doing a bit more “scientific” work.
Instead, we should aim to read broadly—not just across research disciplines but literary genres as well. There’s value in understanding and appreciating how others see the world (both real and imaginary). In fact, I’ve learned so much from reading fiction that I simply can’t imagine doing my research and teaching without it anymore.
So, here are just three things I’ve learned by reading broadly.
THINKING CREATIVELY
Research necessitates creativity, yet I’m not sure creativity is always valued as a skill (that’s a separate post). Nonetheless, when immersed in a world completely new to me (and otherwise unimaginable), I am inspired—not just by the vivid images that are conjured up by the words but by the skill required to piece together these familiar and unfamiliar realities. And somehow, making sense of these new worlds helps me think more flexibly about my own work.
APPRECIATING DIFFERENT WAYS OF KNOWING (AND LEARNING)
Although it’s prudent to rely on evidence to form opinions, it’s also easy to disregard experiences that are not “scientifically” validated or realized. When we limit ourselves to descriptions of “quantified” behaviors or experiences, we’re left with an incomplete understanding of the human experience. To improve my understanding of the broader human experience, I often turn to memoirs, short essays, and comics. These literary forms (or are they genres?…I’m not so knowledgeable about how to talk about these things!) grapple with tough subjects and do so in complementary ways. For example, whereas memoirs can offer deep dives into a single person’s life, comics can weave together universes and timelines that seem incompatible with each other, all in the service of conveying a much larger message.
SPONTANEOUS CONVERSATION
The more I read, the more I can talk about with others! I’ve enjoyed a number of spontaneous conversations with fellow bookstore visitors, including those who were deciding between books I’ve already read (please, just read everything by Elizabeth Acevedo). I’ve also learned quite a bit from observing how others navigate spaces with books. Who runs to the “New Releases” table? Who will I find in the stacks? What unknown thing (to me) are people passionate about? Perhaps reading broadly helps me feel a bit closer to the strangers I encounter in the world…or maybe the world feels a bit less strange the more I know how others see it.
If interested in starting on your own reading (broadly) journey, please consider making use of your local library. Although I always enjoy visiting my local library, I really appreciate the convenience of apps like Libby, which allow me to borrow books from the comfort of my home (late at night when the library is closed!).
Until next time!
How to reach me: You are always welcome to email me (letstalkgradschool@gmail.com). You can also find me on Twitter @tweetsbymidge and Instagram @letstalkgradschool.
Want to support my #hiddencurriculum efforts? Consider “buying me a coffee” via Ko-fi. All funds will be put back into my Let’s Talk Grad School initiatives (i.e., weekend groups, buying/mailing books, etc.). Learn more about my efforts here.
Let’s give away some books: Readers located in the United States are eligible to enter the book giveaway to receive a copy of A Field Guide to Grad School by Dr. Jessica Calarco. To do so, complete this survey and note that you only have to complete it once to be entered in all subsequent giveaways! I do hope to expand the reach of the giveaway; however, at the moment, the shipping costs are too great to scale. If you’d like to talk about ways your institution could secure an electronic (or hard) copy, please let me know.
Wishing you all the best!
Margaret
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