NBW 2013: Lessons I've Learned from Books

Sitting down to write a post for National Book Week is a lot of fun, but can also be incredibly challenging. There are just so many topics about books and reading that I could tackle and narrowing my focus down to just one is never easy.

Nerine discussed in her post yesterday how books can be doorways into new and exciting worlds. That got me thinking about what I've discovered on the other side of the particular doorways I've wandered through. Books can be companions and escapes from the pressures of the “real world”, but while I was thinking about this I came to realise that books have also been some of my greatest teachers.
Through books I have been able to share the thoughts of some of the most amazing men and women (both real and fictional) that the world has ever known. I have watched over Marie Curie's shoulder as she discovered and tried to understand radioactivity; I have sat in Russia's Winter Palace and held court with Catherine the Great; I have lived through the horror of the holocaust; I have solved cases with the legendary Sherlock Holmes; and I have crouched by Shakespeare's side as he penned some of his greatest works. These are just some of the gifts that reading has given to me. Moments that I would not have otherwise had the chance to experience.
But more than this gift of experiencing the world, books have taught me some very specific life lessons:
Sometimes the good guys do win
The world can seem to be a very bleak place. With the news constantly bombarding us with stories of violence, yet another crooked politician and war it's tempting to think that things have no way of getting better. But books have taught me that sometimes the good guys do win. No matter the genre, characters frequently overcome impossible odds to make their lives or their little part of the planet a better place. It might be something as simple as a character discovering love for the first time. Or maybe a serial killer is brought to justice through the dedication and intelligence of the police. And possibly the evil sorceress is finally killed and the kingdom is freed.
The good guys do win and it's important to hold on to that belief.
Our actions have consequences
Here in South Africa we are fortunate enough to have one of the world's greatest constitutions. People are always aware of their “rights”. But sometimes it's important to realise that our actions can impact on other people's lives. Countless stories will show how a character's seemingly simple decision can cause a chain of events that have far-reaching effects. The hero's decision to stop for a cup of coffee could place him on a particular stretch of pavement just as a woman is being mugged. A student decides to cheat on an exam and gets caught. The prince refuses to marry the woman his parents have chosen for him. Any of these examples have great potential for a story, but they are ultimately about choice.
Choice is a very powerful thing and should be treated with respect.
Dreams can come true
We all have dreams. We all have at least one thing we'd love to do in our lives. For me it's the desire to become a published writer. For you it might be to travel and see the world. Or even to have your own family. Our dreams, both big and small, shape us. They influence the choices we make and the things we work towards. But so often we let our dreams fall by the wayside as responsibilities and worries press in on us. Books have taught me to hold on to my dreams. To treasure them and to keep them safe. And that they do come true.
Dare to dream.
The people in your life are important
This may seem like a very strange lesson to have learned from books. After all, most of them are populated by completely imaginary people. But think about it. The most interesting books I have read, in any genre, are the ones in which the hero/heroine has someone by their side to help them. Even the relationship with the antagonist adds depth to the story. Humans are, by nature, social beings. I'm not saying we all want to go out and hang around in huge crowds. But we need other people in our lives. It could be your partner, your parents, your high school science teacher or your goofy best friend. Each of those people has helped to shape who you are and they should be treasured.
The people around you have value.

I could probably keep going with these lessons. But I think that you get the general idea. Books are more than just entertainment or a way to pass on facts. They are teachers who will open your eyes to the world.

What lessons have books taught you?