Hello again dear reader,
Today I thought we would discuss something a little different. As you probably know by now, I am something of a literary buff. I will read just about anything as long as there's a good story and plot line with well-developed characters in a world I can get lost in. I read everything from mysteries and thrillers, to Sci-Fi, Nonfiction histories, the classics from Shakespeare to the Greek tragedies, and everything in between. Today dear reader, I thought we would discuss one of those classics (Or I should say a classic author) for today's article dear reader, we would discuss why I think everyone (Men in particular) should read Jane Austen. Like most people, I was first exposed to Jane Austin from the various movies adopted from her books. However, I wasn't exposed to the original source material meaningfully, until I was in college; We had to analyze Pride and Prejudice in my English literature class (I think everyone has to analyze pride and prejudice in English literature class.) After analyzing pride and prejudice, I was hooked, I couldn't get over how richly developed the characters and places, were developed, And the rhythm of the language was fascinating. Every aspect of the story sucks you into the universe and won't let you go from the first page to the last. I, of course, got gently ribbed by my friends for reading Jane Austen because they were “girls books” but I didn't care. As an aspiring writer, Jane Austen is an author to look up to regardless of gender. So hopefully, by the end of today's article, dear reader, you too will have, An appreciation for why everyone should read Jane Austen's work.
Jane Austen's novels are not just about frilly clothes and stuffy manners of the Regency period. They are enjoyable and entertaining to read with compelling plots and deft dialogue. Austen has a sharp wit and often skewers the attitude and cultural mores of the day.
Austen Will Help You Develop Your Theory of Mind
Reading fiction helps develop cognitive psychologists' “theory of mind.” It allows us to assess the mental states of others based on a whole host of input and to use that assessment to predict and explain what people are thinking. Austen's novels are all about relationships and what everyone thinks about those relationships. Keeping track of this web of relationships and figuring out what all those subtle 19th-century British social gestures really mean becomes an intense workout in theory of mind. If you want to become a better strategist, leader, husband, father, or lover, reading Austen can certainly help.
Being Familiar With Austen Is an Essential Part of Being Culturally Literate
Austen is one of the participants in the Great Conversation about the big ideas in life going on in Western culture that began in Ancient Greece and continues today. Her works are referenced in numerous works of psychology, sociology, and philosophy. References to Austen also regularly appear in the media, from articles of hard journalism to pop culture. If you'd like to be a more adroit participant in the Great Conversation, grasp pop culture references that might otherwise go over your head, and be all around more culturally astute, then you need to be up on your Austen.
Austen's Stories Teach Important Life Lessons
Austen's novels teach important life lessons. Love with your heart and your head. Austen's novels are often lumped in with romance fiction of the emotional and escapist variety, but as you read her work, you will discover that she actually takes a very level-headed, eyes-wide-open approach to love. For Austen, a flourishing life requires that you love with both your heart and your head. She frequently shows the unhappiness that transpires when someone marries either out of pure romantic passion or cold, calculated convenience.
As always do reader, thank you for the gift of your valuable time. If you like what you're reading in my blogs, please feel free to share them with whomever you deem worthy.
Editor's note: this post is dedicated to Namma, and the book club of two, thanks for going on so many literary adventures with me, and helping me to get lost in a good story.
You are so right. Everyone should read Jane Austen. Her writing has humor, irony and romance. Her stories were contemporary, about the times and people of her era. She almost stopped writing, but persisted in her endeavors. The literary world is a better place because of Austin's works.
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