Learning From Fiction

One of the things I enjoy in reading fiction is learning a new technique or little tidbit of knowledge I could use later. I’ve found that while some authors sort of just wing it when they are writing, many of them actually do quite a bit of research to determine how feasible their ideas may be.

An author who is really worth reading and learning from is Gary Paulsen. Many people are familiar with his Hatchet series of books but may not realize just how prolific he is, with some 200 books to his name so far. Most of his stories are centered in the wilderness in some way. Paulsen himself has truly been there and done that when it comes to these sorts of stories. In the Hatchet books in particular, the main character, Brian, learns through trial and error ways to survive in the wild with very little in the way of supplies.

The Clan of the Cave Bear and other books in the Earth’s Children series by Jean Auel are chock full of factual information on how primitive people lived — what they ate, what they used for medicine, how they survived.

The fiction of James Wesley, Rawles is known to be filled with practical survival techniques. His book Patriots has been said to be a survival manual written as a novel.

Learning through fiction is fun and this is a great way to help teach the younger generations. They get to read a great story and the teachings just sort of filter in without them even realizing it.

What fiction books have taught you a thing or two about survival?