If you look at reading stats, you’ll see something troubling: men read less fiction than women by a pretty wide margin. That’s not just a quirky cultural footnote — it’s a missed opportunity. Fiction doesn’t just entertain; it builds empathy, sharpens thinking, and opens up new parts of ourselves we might otherwise neglect. Here are five reasons more men should dive into novels, short stories, and other fictional worlds.
1. Fiction builds emotional intelligence
Reading fiction forces you to step into someone else’s shoes. You start to understand motivations, insecurities, and worldviews that aren’t your own. That’s emotional intelligence in action. The best leaders, colleagues, partners, and parents are people who can pick up on nuance, read between the lines, and respond with real empathy. Fiction gives you a low-stakes way to practice that.
2. It helps you process your own life
A good novel can be like a mirror held up to your own experiences — or a safe place to explore feelings you’ve buried. Seeing characters struggle, fail, or triumph helps you sort through your own joys and disappointments. It’s an indirect way to do a little self-work, without the vulnerability of talking it all out.
3. It improves focus in a distracted world
Scrolling is easy. Reading a novel takes time and patience. It trains your mind to sit with one thing for longer than 15 seconds. That’s a skill in short supply, and it pays off beyond books — in your work, relationships, and ability to just be present.
4. It expands your worldview
If you only read the news (or worse, just headlines), your sense of the world can get narrow and reactive. Fiction slows things down and lets you see how other people live, love, work, and dream. It cuts past statistics and sound bites. It humanizes people who are different from you. That makes you a wiser citizen and a better neighbor.
5. It’s simply more fun than you might think
There’s a stereotype that fiction is either too flowery or too fluffy. The truth? There’s a book for every taste. Thrillers, gritty family dramas, sci-fi epics, literary masterpieces — pick your poison. Once you find the kind of story that hooks you, it’s hard to stop. And honestly, who doesn’t want more enjoyment in their life?
If you’re a guy who hasn’t cracked a novel since high school, give it another shot. You might discover more about yourself, grow a bit in the process, and — not least — have a damn good time.
Want recommendations? Happy to share some that might surprise you.
Drifting with Dalton 
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