We usually think of stories as entertainment—something to flip through on a plane, or an audiobook to pass time in traffic. But the truth is, fiction sharpens the brain in ways that are hard to beat.
1. Better Focus Following a novel forces your brain to stay present—tracking the plot, remembering characters, and catching small details. For me, it’s not so different from preparing for trial. If you lose track of the story, you lose the whole case.
2. Bigger Imagination Fiction stretches your creativity. When I read about a detective in New York or a wizard at Hogwarts, my brain builds those worlds. That same skill shows up when I need to think differently in the courtroom, or solve a problem no one else sees.
3. More Empathy The best stories put you in someone else’s shoes—you feel their wins, their heartbreaks, their fears. As a lawyer, I rely on that muscle every day. If I can’t connect with my clients’ struggles, I can’t tell their story to a jury.
4. Stronger Memory Keeping track of who said what, or how events connect, is like a mental workout. It’s why I still remember little details from cases I tried 15 years ago. My brain got in the habit of holding onto threads and weaving them back together.
5. Lower Stress Stories give your mind a break. I’d take an audiobook at night over doomscrolling any day—it slows me down and actually helps me sleep.
6. Sharper Communication The more stories you take in, the more tools you’ve got to tell your own. Reading fiction expands your vocabulary, but more importantly, it teaches rhythm and style. That’s what makes a good argument stick.
So don’t dismiss fiction as “just for fun.” It’s exercise for your brain, empathy training for your heart, and sometimes the best way to get ready for real life.
When I pick up a novel, I’m not just passing time—I’m sharpening tools I’ll use in the courtroom and in life.
AlderTalk
We usually think of stories as entertainment—something to flip through on a plane, or an audiobook to pass time in traffic. But the truth is, fiction sharpens the brain in ways that are hard to beat.
1. Better Focus
Following a novel forces your brain to stay present—tracking the plot, remembering characters, and catching small details. For me, it’s not so different from preparing for trial. If you lose track of the story, you lose the whole case.
2. Bigger Imagination
Fiction stretches your creativity. When I read about a detective in New York or a wizard at Hogwarts, my brain builds those worlds. That same skill shows up when I need to think differently in the courtroom, or solve a problem no one else sees.
3. More Empathy
The best stories put you in someone else’s shoes—you feel their wins, their heartbreaks, their fears. As a lawyer, I rely on that muscle every day. If I can’t connect with my clients’ struggles, I can’t tell their story to a jury.
4. Stronger Memory
Keeping track of who said what, or how events connect, is like a mental workout. It’s why I still remember little details from cases I tried 15 years ago. My brain got in the habit of holding onto threads and weaving them back together.
5. Lower Stress
Stories give your mind a break. I’d take an audiobook at night over doomscrolling any day—it slows me down and actually helps me sleep.
6. Sharper Communication
The more stories you take in, the more tools you’ve got to tell your own. Reading fiction expands your vocabulary, but more importantly, it teaches rhythm and style. That’s what makes a good argument stick.
So don’t dismiss fiction as “just for fun.” It’s exercise for your brain, empathy training for your heart, and sometimes the best way to get ready for real life.
When I pick up a novel, I’m not just passing time—I’m sharpening tools I’ll use in the courtroom and in life.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1