Why You Should Read More Non-Fiction
Three Key Benefits of Reading Non-Fiction and Where to Begin (Our 2024 Guide)
Three Key Benefits of Reading Non-Fiction
As an English Literature graduate I have always been a voracious reader of fiction. I spent my childhood lost in imaginary worlds and raced through countless novels. It is only in recent years, however, that I’ve discovered the delights and benefits of non-fiction books. Looking back, I wish I had understood their importance earlier in my academic life. Beginning my course at university, I was struck by the interdisciplinary nature of my degree – in order to write essays on Milton, I needed to understand the history and politics of the English Civil War, and my reading of George Orwell was greatly informed by wider knowledge of nineteenth century culture. I quickly learnt that nothing can be fully appreciated in isolation.
1) Reading Non-Fiction can be fun
Non-fiction material is the basis of the majority of our national curriculum – history, science, religious studies, geography and many more subjects depend upon it. Yet the benefits of reading non-fiction books are rarely extolled in the classroom and children are taught that reading for pleasure equates to reading fiction. Often, the only non-fiction books students will encounter are textbooks. Those who don’t enjoy fiction are led to think that they don’t enjoy reading – but this is not the case, they simply haven’t found the right books to engage them.
2) Non-fiction books help us understand the world we live in
Non-fiction makes up a substantial amount of the world’s literary output, and is something that we encounter daily. Newspapers, recipe books and even our Twitter feeds require us to interact with and assimilate non-fiction material. By encouraging students to explore factual writing as well as fiction, they will be better equipped to engage with the world around them.
Encouraging your child to read non-fiction – as well as fiction – can benefit their learning enormously. Non-fiction books on topics that overlap with and expand upon what is being learnt at school will engage a child’s natural curiosity. It could even spark a lifelong love of a subject. One of the major advantages of reading non-fiction books from a young age is the way they will nurture and encourage academic growth by providing super-curricular knowledge and a greater understanding of our world. Material explored can offer new perspectives on and insights into both historical and current affairs: books on nature could lead to an awareness of climate change, or a biography of a famous figure could open eyes to different historical periods. Even reading The Guinness Book of World Records could create an interest in a new sport, culture or hobby.
3) Reading Non-Fiction Boosts Learning
A crucial benefit of reading non-fiction is that, whatever the topic, non-fiction reading will also provide your child with tools that can boost grades in the classroom. Through non-fiction books, they will encounter new, and sometimes specialist, vocabulary and learn how to understand and assimilate information. For older students, non-fiction books will teach them how to interpret data and secondary sources, as well as how to structure arguments. This is excellent preparation for A Level study and beyond.
Non-fiction books can delight students of all ages, from children just learning to read right up to teenagers applying to university. For younger readers, the Dorling Kindersley ‘Eyewitness’ series offer stimulating introductions to a whole range of subjects. ‘You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without’ is another great series which will engage curious children.
For young adult readers, biographies are a great example of non-fiction literature. Choosing figures familiar from history lessons at school, film and TV or a favourite sport player offers a welcoming starting point for students. As well as biographies, many TV personalities with a bent for learning such as Stephen Fry, Professor Brian Cox or David Attenborough have written non-fiction books. Similarly, well-known politicians or journalists can offer insight into current affairs through a welcoming and familiar perspective. One of our favourite non-fiction reads of recent years is The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes, shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and winner of the Royal Society Prize for Science Books.
U2 Tuition Quick Tip: Our co-curricular division Minds Underground has some great “mind-enhancing” resources available online. We also share a great monthly Humanities and Sciences Digest, Curious Minds, that introduces older learners to exciting non-fiction resources to help them expand their knowledge beyond the syllabus. Sign up for free here to experience some of the benefits of reading non-fiction.
Whatever the book, reading non-fiction books offers a great opportunity to encourage intellectual development and independent thought. By inspiring children to look beyond the curriculum and inviting them to be guided by their personal interests, non-fiction literature encourages a well-rounded education and an informed perspective on life.
By Sarah, English Language & Literature, University of Oxford.
Looking for a top tutor to take your reading to the next level?
U2 Tuition’s tutors offer 1-1 non-fiction reading and off-curriculum discussion sessions in subjects ranging from physics, conservation and medicine to history, politics and economics. Find out more by emailing [email protected] or check out our Beyond the Syllabus page to view the plethora of extracurricular opportunities available in cross-cutting contemporary topics!
We have a wonderful team of specialist GCSE, A-Level and IB tutors, most of whom hold an Oxbridge degree and have accumulated a number of years’ tuition experience. Our tutors are well-placed to ensure students are on track to achieve their desired grades, whether that may be supporting school assignments, revision/ preparation for examinations or coursework. Visit our GCSE, A-Level and IB pages for more details.
The Tuition Process
1) We suggest an Oxbridge graduate with a specialism in GCSE, A-Level or IB as a mentor and send their full CV for review. We will select a tutor with most experience of the examination board the student is following. We may suggest a range of tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.
2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ preliminary session, where the tutor will get to know the student and assess their current performance level and identify strengths and weaknesses. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, make sure you are happy with the tutor, and structure a plan for future sessions.
3) Regular sessions: Following the first session, the tutor/s will curate a plan for further sessions, working out a good split between papers/ texts/topics to cover. They will also ensure the student has the tools they need with regards to exam technique/ understanding how to tick the boxes of mark schemes. All of our tutors are Oxbridge-educated and highly passionate about their subjects, so should hopefully mentor and inspire the student too! We send reports after every session detailing feedback and students/ parents & guardians liaise directly with the tutor to arrange sessions around their schedule.
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