Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric
For me, fiction is important because, as both Nnyhav and Jan Mbali say, it helps you get a coherent view of the world. Fair enough. But if you only read things originally written in the USA, Britain and a few other English-speaking countries, plus a couple of French and Russian classics, where is your view of the thirty of forty countries of Europe, what makes them tick, let alone countries further afield?
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People willingly circumscribe themselves, and their world, in various ways. Many don't even read (wait for the movie!). Most of those that do prefer nonfiction, and most of those remaining prefer nonliterature (see bestseller lists). For the minority of the minority, translation provides a more effective means of broadening horizons than does mastering other languages. We're spoilt for choice as it is.