Fiction Reflects Life

Guest post by: Jim Stovall
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Getting in and out of Trouble - By Jim Stovall

I have just written my 18th book. Approximately half of them are fiction and the other half are nonfiction. I have spoken with people over the years who piously tell me, “I only read nonfiction since fiction is only for recreation.”

Anyone who adheres to this belief would have never read Shakespeare, Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, or any of the great literary giants who have left their imprint on the world in which we live. On the other hand, people who only read fiction may miss ideas, trends, and principles that can only be presented in a nonfiction environment.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, it was revealed that readers of fiction actually begin to take on the characteristics of the heroes and heroines within the pages of the novels they read. Given the dark nature of some recent fiction, this could be disturbing.

I’m in the television industry, beginning my 25th season of providing accessible television shows and movies to major broadcast and cable networks. The television industry has brought many great things into our homes. It can be a wonderful societal tool for communication, socialization, and bringing historical news items to every household. On the other hand, television has been described as a great “wasteland,” and in many ways it deserves that label.

Since its inception, producers of television programming have been pushing the envelope with regard to violence and adult content within their productions. These TV moguls would have you believe that people know it’s only a TV show or movie, so it doesn’t really create a lasting effect on the people who tune in. On the other hand, these same television executives will tell you with all sincerity that if you will spend a million dollars or more to buy 30 seconds or a minute of their commercial time, that it will cause countless viewers to become consumers of their products and services.

The average high school graduate today has seen hundreds of murders, violent crimes, and illegal acts in the comfort and convenience of their home. It is hard to justify in a commercially ad-driven medium that this content does not have an effect on the minds and futures of these young people.

I know very little about computers other than the enduring rule that tells us “garbage in, garbage out.” This is to say that a computer can perform no better than the content you put into it.

Each year, scientists are revealing more new facts about the amazing mystery that has been the human brain. One of the many new revelations is the fact that we perceive much more than we realize that we do, and each perception creates our expectation of reality.

Be aware that the movies, TV programs, games, and books that you and your family consume will create the immediate environment in which you live.

As you go through your day today, control the outcomes in your life by controlling the input you receive.

Today’s the day!

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Getting in and out of Trouble - By Jim Stovall

About the Author: Jim Stovall

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Jim Stovall has been a national champion Olympic weightlifter, the President of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network, and a highly sought after author and platform speaker. He is the author of the best selling book, The Ultimate Gift, which is now a major motion picture starring James Garner and Abigail Breslin. Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes magazine, says, “Jim Stovall is one of the most extraordinary men of our era.” For his work in making television accessible to our nation’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people, The President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Jim Stovall as the Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also chosen as the International Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa as recipients of this honor. info@jimstovall.com www.narrativetv.com www.ultimateproductivity.com
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