--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like to read nonfiction. To me…" description: "\"I don't like to read nonfiction. To me, fact is something I can look up.\" — Fran Lebowitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/fran-lebowitz-690_books_i-don-t-like-to-read-nonfiction-to-me-fa_326019.png" --- # I don't like to read nonfiction. To me, fact is something… ![“I don't like to read nonfiction. To me, fact is something I can look up.” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/fran-lebowitz-690_books_i-don-t-like-to-read-nonfiction-to-me-fa_326019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/fran-lebowitz-690_books_i-don-t-like-to-read-nonfiction-to-me-fa_326019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/fran-lebowitz-690_books_i-don-t-like-to-read-nonfiction-to-me-fa_326019.png) > “I don't like to read nonfiction. To me, fact is something I can look up.” [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nonfiction is seen as a reference, not a primary source of engagement; facts can be looked up later. **In simple terms:** She treats facts as reference material, not essential reading. Key Takeaway Use nonfiction for depth, not just quick lookup. Themes reading knowledge information Mood curious skeptical Type literary personal When to use this quote - research - academic study - personal development - news consumption - writing Key Concepts epistemology literacy learning styles Questions to Reflect On - Why do you prefer narrative over factual texts? - How does this view shape your learning habits? A Different Perspective Relying solely on lookup can limit critical thinking and context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Nonfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonfiction/) ## Related quotes > [People seem to want to read more nonfiction than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/people-seem-to-want-to-read-more-nonfiction-than-fiction/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Generally, I read nonfiction. Theres very little fiction that I enjoy enough to spend my time reading. I am generally a nonfiction guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/generally-i-read-nonfiction-theres-very-little-fiction-that-i-enjoy/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I like European and South American literature, but mostly I read nonfiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessa-crispin/i-like-european-and-south-american-literature-but-mostly-i-read/) [Jessa Crispin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessa-crispin/) > [I read nonfiction almost exclusively - both for research and also for pleasure. When I read fiction, it's almost always in the thriller genre,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-read-nonfiction-almost-exclusively-both-for-research-and-also-for/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I tend to read more nonfiction, really, because when I'm writing I don't like to read other fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-tend-to-read-more-nonfiction-really-because-when-i-m-writing-i-don/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I hardly read fiction; I mostly read nonfiction. I like to examine material things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-miller/i-hardly-read-fiction-i-mostly-read-nonfiction-i-like-to-examine/) [Bennett Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-miller/) > [Generally, I read nonfiction. There's very little fiction that I enjoy enough to spend my time reading. I am generally a nonfiction guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/generally-i-read-nonfiction-there-s-very-little-fiction-that-i-enjoy/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [As I started to read nonfiction in the mid '70s, I discovered, holy cow, there was a lot of imaginative nonfiction. Not the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/as-i-started-to-read-nonfiction-in-the-mid-70s-i-discovered-holy-cow/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) > [My reading preferences are kind of all over the board - I read nonfiction, I read graphic novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dav-pilkey/my-reading-preferences-are-kind-of-all-over-the-board-i-read/) [Dav Pilkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dav-pilkey/) > [I read nonfiction. There's very little fiction that I enjoy enough to spend my time reading. I am generally a nonfiction guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-read-nonfiction-there-s-very-little-fiction-that-i-enjoy-enough-to/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [“I read nonfiction." She reared back as if offended.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-osterlund/i-read-nonfiction-she-reared-back-as-if-offended/) [Anne Osterlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-osterlund/) > [Fiction seems to be more effective at changing beliefs than nonfiction, which is designed to persuade through argument and evidence. Studies show that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/fiction-seems-to-be-more-effective-at-changing-beliefs-than/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [People seem to read so much more nonfiction than fiction, and so it always gives me great pleasure to introduce a friend or family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bohjalian/people-seem-to-read-so-much-more-nonfiction-than-fiction-and-so-it/) [Chris Bohjalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bohjalian/) > [I love to read nonfiction and memoir, but I'm mostly interested in the piece of writing more than the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-love-to-read-nonfiction-and-memoir-but-i-m-mostly-interested-in-the/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I don't have time to read nonfiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-kinsella/i-don-t-have-time-to-read-nonfiction/) [W. P. Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-p-kinsella/) ## More by Fran Lebowitz > [Why not have your first baby at sixty, when your husband is already dead and your career is over? Then you can really devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/why-not-have-your-first-baby-at-sixty-when-your-husband-is-already/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I've never had the experience of being edited and never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-ve-never-had-the-experience-of-being-edited-and-never-will/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. Wit is judgment, whereas humor invites some sort of response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-think-humor-is-warmer-and-wit-is-colder-wit-is-judgment-whereas/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Communists all seem to wear small caps, a look I consider better suited to tubes of toothpaste than to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/communists-all-seem-to-wear-small-caps-a-look-i-consider-better/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“lack, or loutish and crass kollective is a program dedicated to the proposition that vulgarity and bad taste are an inalienable right. the lackies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/lack-or-loutish-and-crass-kollective-is-a-program-dedicated-to-the/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery whether you play or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-figure-you-have-the-same-chance-of-winning-the-lottery-whether-you/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [ \[Friendships\] are easy to get out of compared to love affairs, but they are not easy to get out of compared to, say, jail. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/friendships-are-easy-to-get-out-of-compared-to-love-affairs-but-they/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Smoking is, as far as I'm concerned, the entire point of being an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-entire-point-of-being-an-adult/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-this-world-get-a-lawyer-not-a-book/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When it comes to sports I am not particularly interested. Generally speaking, I look upon them as dangerous and tiring activities performed by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-it-comes-to-sports-i-am-not-particularly-interested-generally/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [The first time I ever saw platform shoes in the '70s, I knew they'd been revived from the '40s, and I felt sickened. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-platform-shoes-in-the-70s-i-knew-they-d/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [ I do not think everyone is created equal. In fact, I know they're not. \[The Constitution\] means that everyone should have the same laws… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-do-not-think-everyone-is-created-equal-in-fact-i-know-they-re-not/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When I fly, I'm never afraid the plane is going to crash. But there have often been times when I was afraid it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-fly-i-m-never-afraid-the-plane-is-going-to-crash-but-there/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Smoking is, if not my life, then at least my hobby. I love to smoke. Smoking is fun. Smoking is cool. Smoking is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-if-not-my-life-then-at-least-my-hobby-i-love-to-smoke/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) [Explore all 408 Fran Lebowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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