--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I read everything: fiction, history…" description: "\"I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics, biography, travel.\" — Martin Lewis Perl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png" --- # I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics… ![“I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics, biography, travel.” quote by Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png) > “I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics, biography, travel.” [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Broad reading cultivates a well-rounded intellect and curiosity. **In simple terms:** Reading many subjects expands understanding. Key Takeaway Read widely to broaden perspective. Themes education curiosity interdisciplinary knowledge growth Mood inquisitive enthusiastic inspirational Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - Academic study - self‑education - creative problem solving Key Concepts Intellectual development lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - Which topics spark your curiosity? - How balance breadth and depth in learning? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on breadth may sacrifice depth in expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-history-800212/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mathematics Biography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics-biography-2531322/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Read Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-fiction-280033/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Over the years, more than one reviewer has described my fantasy series, 'A Song of Ice and Fire', as historical fiction about history that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/over-the-years-more-than-one-reviewer-has-described-my-fantasy-series/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [It's a guilty secret of a lot of writers, as you get older you don't read as much fiction as you used to, mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-a-guilty-secret-of-a-lot-of-writers-as-you-get-older-you-don-t/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I define science fiction as the art of the possible. Fantasy is the art of the impossible. Science fiction, again, is the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-define-science-fiction-as-the-art-of-the-possible-fantasy-is-the-3/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I much prefer writing fiction. History books, for me, are very hard work, very serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/i-much-prefer-writing-fiction-history-books-for-me-are-very-hard-work/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [I meet a number of people as a writer of fiction who say "Oh, I don't read much fiction," as if the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/i-meet-a-number-of-people-as-a-writer-of-fiction-who-say-oh-i-don-t/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“I like fiction and the history...Great!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-fiction-and-the-history-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I define science fiction as the art of the possible. Fantasy is the art of the impossible. Science fiction, again, is the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-define-science-fiction-as-the-art-of-the-possible-fantasy-is-the-2/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Reagan’s easy slippage between movies and reality is synechdochic for a political culture increasingly impervious to distinctions between fiction and history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rogin/reagan-s-easy-slippage-between-movies-and-reality-is-synechdochic-for/) [Michael Rogin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rogin/) > [Fiction is history, human history, or it is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/fiction-is-history-human-history-or-it-is-nothing/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Writing historical novels can be dangerous. We need to be as accurate and as fair about the historical record as we can be, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rutherfurd/writing-historical-novels-can-be-dangerous-we-need-to-be-as-accurate/) [Edward Rutherfurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rutherfurd/) > [So much history, if you or I were to write it, could seem a fiction. These separations, these lines that tell us this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/so-much-history-if-you-or-i-were-to-write-it-could-seem-a-fiction/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“If you don't read books, and if you don't get consumed by the physical and moral life of men and women in fiction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-denby/if-you-don-t-read-books-and-if-you-don-t-get-consumed-by-the-physical/) [David Denby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-denby/) > [Often the lines that define the traditional European arrangement of fiction, non-fiction, history, etc. are not useful. These lines can distort the world we,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/often-the-lines-that-define-the-traditional-european-arrangement-of/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Why is life a constant disappointment?' 'Because we read fiction,' Mia said, and Shelley nodded, knowing it was true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-connelly/why-is-life-a-constant-disappointment-because-we-read-fiction-mia/) [Victoria Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-connelly/) > [Historical fiction is not history. You're blending real events and actual historical personages with characters of your own creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/historical-fiction-is-not-history-you-re-blending-real-events-and/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) ## More by Martin Lewis Perl > [I learned quickly, as I tell my graduate students now, there are no answers in the back of the book when the equipment doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/i-learned-quickly-as-i-tell-my-graduate-students-now-there-are-no/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [The remoteness of my parents from the schools, so unfashionable today, was often painful for me, but I learned early to deal with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/the-remoteness-of-my-parents-from-the-schools-so-unfashionable-today/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [About 1900 my parents came to the United States as children from what was then the Polish area of Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/about-1900-my-parents-came-to-the-united-states-as-children-from-what/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [Experimental science is a craft and an art, and part of the art is knowing when to end a fruitless experiment. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/experimental-science-is-a-craft-and-an-art-and-part-of-the-art-is/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [A parent being called to the school because their child had misbehaved was as serious as a parent being called to the police station…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/a-parent-being-called-to-the-school-because-their-child-had/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [Naturally, I have compensated in my adult years by owning very large numbers of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/naturally-i-have-compensated-in-my-adult-years-by-owning-very-large/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [There were two free public libraries within walking distance of my home; I remember taking six books home from every visit, the limit set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/there-were-two-free-public-libraries-within-walking-distance-of-my/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [As Jews, their families left Russia to escape the poverty and the antisemitism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/as-jews-their-families-left-russia-to-escape-the-poverty-and-the/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [My parents regarded school teachers as higher beings, as did many immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/my-parents-regarded-school-teachers-as-higher-beings-as-did-many/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [Going to school and working for good marks, indeed working for very good marks, was a serious business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/going-to-school-and-working-for-good-marks-indeed-working-for-very/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [Whatever the course, whether the course was boring or interesting to me, whether I was talented in mathematics or not talented in languages, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/whatever-the-course-whether-the-course-was-boring-or-interesting-to/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [Natures' curriculum cannot be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/natures-curriculum-cannot-be-changed/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [This was good training for research, because large parts of experimental work are sometimes boring or involve the use of skills in which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/this-was-good-training-for-research-because-large-parts-of/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [They wanted me to play more sports because they were acutely sensitive to their children being one hundred percent American, and they believed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/they-wanted-me-to-play-more-sports-because-they-were-acutely/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [Their educations ended with high school - my father going to work as a clerk and then salesman in a company dealing in printing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/their-educations-ended-with-high-school-my-father-going-to-work-as-a/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) [Explore all 21 Martin Lewis Perl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) ## 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. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics, biography, travel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Lewis Perl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/i-read-everything-fiction-history-science-mathematics-biography-travel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/i-read-everything-fiction-history-science-mathematics-biography-travel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/martin-lewis-perl-26976_books_i-read-everything-fiction-history-scienc_2674620.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I read everything: fiction, history, science, mathematics, biography, travel.” — Martin Lewis Perl", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Lewis Perl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I read everything: fiction, history, science,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/i-read-everything-fiction-history-science-mathematics-biography-travel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/i-read-everything-fiction-history-science-mathematics-biography-travel/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```