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Robert Winner

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Are you what you read?

Research says when you lose yourself in fiction, you may begin to resemble the character you love.

Has your life been changed by a character?

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  • Inderjot Uppal

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    Jun 13 2012: Yes that is partly true. Some of the characters I have come across in books have helped shape my ideas, given me hope and aspirations. But the people in my life - those who I know personally and those who I don't know personally have also contributed to who I am.
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    May 31 2012: It could just as easily be that "we read what we are'. Most human beings seek out books which reinforce their beliefs and stereotypes without conscious thought.

  • Eric Hazelle

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    May 28 2012: To paraphrase a quote I heard years ago which has had a great impact on my reading life: "The books that I have read have contributed to who I am just as the food I have eaten has contributed to the body I have." We are what we eat; we are what we read. How important it is to avoid the "junk food" literature and entertainment that is out there. If we eat junk food, we get a junk body. If we consume junk literature and entertainment, we'll wind up with a junk mind / soul / personality, etc.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    May 15 2012: What one reads contributes a lot to shaping one's character.But it is not the sole contributor; parental influence, peer influence, media and society is part of the whole picture.
    Anything that one allows access to one's mind will shape one's thought. And thoughts shape decisions and actions.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    May 15 2012: What one reads contributes a lot to shaping one's character.But it is not the sole contributor; parental influence, peer influence, media and society is part of the whole picture.
    Anything that one allows access to one's mind will shape one's thought. And thoughts shape decisions and actions.
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    Becky C

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    May 15 2012: A small amount yes, I don't mean the characters in there. I mean If you pick out a love book and enjoy it then you may not be good at love but you like the context of 'love'. If you enjoy the context of love then that's a personality trait in a way. SO my answer is yes but only in the way that a small part of you (or more) is the genre that you read (if that makes sense.)

    Love was random I'm not personally keen on romantic books. :)
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    Heather White 20+

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    May 15 2012: When I read fiction I don't identify personally with the hero or heroin - I enjoy the story / crime / plot / locations for themselves. I do lose myself in a good book - which is the whole point of reading, but I've never found myself becoming the character.
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    Fritzie Reisner 100+

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    May 15 2012: I think the relationship between who we are and what we read goes in both directions. What we read provides vicarious experiences that help us understand ourselves and our potential as well as to understand the possible motivations or actions others take. Our perspectives on issues can broaden when we read material presenting opposing views and our disposition to explore a question from different angles may be enhanced.
    That doesn't make us what we read, but reading is part of how we are molded. In the reverse direction, I know narrow-minded people who read only to seek out material that supports or confirms the views they already hold, discounting the value of being exposed to divergent viewpoints. In that sense you might say some people read what they are.
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    Felippa Amanta

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    May 15 2012: For myself, I've never change into a book character. However, book characters have taught me a lot of things and a lot of new ways to view the world. For example, after reading Agatha Christie's detective novel, I do feel the urge to act like a detective, but I can never be one. Instead, the book and the character taught me to be more observant to the situation. The characters helps me improve myself in a way, to be a better me.

  • george lockwood 30+

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    May 14 2012: interesting, but let's go back to Jung, Myers-Briggs, and Kiersey. I have always identified with historical
    figures with similiar personality types. Very similiar, notwithstanding, perhaps you already are the
    character that you identify with when reading the book-Mr. Spock, Sheldon, Dr. House - enough with the
    INTJ's. History would be U>S> Grant, Jimmy Carter, Marshall Zukow, and Omar Bradly. O>K> Kiersey
    disagrees on the last.
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    Colleen Steen 500+

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    May 14 2012: Interesting question Robert!

    My life has not been changed by any one character, and it certainly has been enriched by observing many characters. I believe we are all mirrors to each other, so with each and every interaction, we have the opportunity to learn, grow and evolve.

    I read a LOT. I observe living creatures (including myself) a LOT. I was a professional actor for years, so I got to play many different characters. I think/feel I enjoy a resemblence to ALL the characters I've ever interacted with:>)

    I have observed myself taking on characteristics of characters from performances, and it's pretty interesting:>)
    I like what Prasil says..."we are what we opt to be". It's always nice to have choices:>)
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    Prasil Koirala

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    May 14 2012: I don't know what exactly you mean when you say "Changed your life"
    I like the Diary sort of Novel "The Dangling Man" by Sir Saul Bellow
    When you read it, you get completely immersed into the words and Imagination
    But when I close the book, I am in my own world again. So, literally, no change for me.

    I guess we are what we what we opt to be.
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