There’s a certain type of person out there. You know who you are. The kind who sips their oat milk latte and says with just a hint of judgment, “Oh, I only read books that help me improve myself.”

Well, congratulations. I wish you well in your lifelong pursuit of optimism. I’ll stick with my morally grey shadow-wielder trying to save the world from a power-hungry monster by becoming one.

Somewhere along the way, books have become yet another thing we’re supposed to “leverage.” If a book isn’t teaching you how to wake up at 4 a.m., meditate for world domination, or launch a start-up by next Tuesday, then what’s the point?

Here’s the point: because I want to.

Curiosity is enough. You don’t need to turn every book into a career move. Reading about dragons, fairies, or vampires is inherently valuable – even if you never apply it in a networking event.

Besides the undoubtedly outstanding argument that I’ve just stated, I will further support my case with evidence on how books on such topics indeed make you smarter.

The science of getting so lost in a book you forget to eat

Ever been so deep in a book that you physically flinched at a dramatic moment? Or looked up three hours later, dazed, wondering what year it was? That’s not just you being a bookworm, that’s your brain in narrative transportation mode.

Basically, when you read, your brain doesn’t just process words like a robot. It creates mental simulations of what’s happening, activating the same regions that light up when you experience something in real life. Your visual cortex treats descriptions like actual images. Your emotions sync with the story. Your brain says, “Oh, we live here now.”

And this isn’t just a fun party trick. Studies show that when you get fully immersed in a book, you:

Build empathy. Your brain literally experiences what others go through, making you better at understanding people in real life. So no, I don’t need a book on emotional intelligence – I’ve read memoirs from under the mountain.

Reduce stress. Reading lowers cortisol levels, calms the nervous system, and lets you escape the relentless doomscrolling cycle. It’s cheaper than therapy and requires zero meditation. Although I wouldn’t recommend picking up any romantasy books for this (especially when you get to the last 100 pages).

Boost creativity. The best ideas come from random connections. Maybe my book about rock chicks being saved by broody macho men will inspire my next big idea – who’s to say?

Read for fun. That’s it. That’s the point.

Books are a mental vacation, and I will not apologize for taking one every day.

Life is exhausting. There are too many emails. Too many notifications. Too many people telling you that if you just grind harder, drink lemon water, and sacrifice your free time at the altar of productivity, you too can achieve success.

If you genuinely enjoy self-help books, then I don’t believe you (I’m kidding). If you genuinely enjoy self-help books, then I’m happy for you. Just don’t be narcissistic about it; you’re not better than someone who reads about dragons. Enjoy what you read and read what you enjoy.

So, the next time someone asks, “But how does that book help you?” You can hit them with:“It’s helping me mind my own business.”

And then turn the page.