--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Other than fiction and poetry I tend to…" description: "\"Other than fiction and poetry I tend to read history.\" — Stephen Dobyns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/stephen-dobyns-13599_books_other-than-fiction-and-poetry-i-tend-to_566746.jpg" --- # Other than fiction and poetry I tend to read history. ![“Other than fiction and poetry I tend to read history.” quote by Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/stephen-dobyns-13599_books_other-than-fiction-and-poetry-i-tend-to_566746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/stephen-dobyns-13599_books_other-than-fiction-and-poetry-i-tend-to_566746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/stephen-dobyns-13599_books_other-than-fiction-and-poetry-i-tend-to_566746.jpg) > “Other than fiction and poetry I tend to read history.” [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author prefers reading history over fiction or poetry, valuing factual narratives. **In simple terms:** History is favored over imaginative literature. Key Takeaway Balance factual and creative reading. Themes history learning preference literature knowledge Mood thoughtful curious Type educational reflective When to use this quote - research projects - academic study - personal enrichment - cultural literacy - teaching Key Concepts historical analysis critical thinking contextual understanding Questions to Reflect On - What insights does history provide that fiction cannot? - How might fiction enrich historical understanding? A Different Perspective History alone may lack emotional resonance of fiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-poetry-690253/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Tend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-tend-4139891/) [Read History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-history-356690/) [Tend Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tend-read-1164467/) ## Related quotes > [More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-murray/more-and-more-i-tend-to-read-history-i-often-find-it-more-up-to-date/) [Joe Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-murray/) > [I must say, when I reread myself, it's the poetry I tend to look at. It's the most exciting to write, and it's over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-must-say-when-i-reread-myself-it-s-the-poetry-i-tend-to-look-at-it/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I tend to read non-fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/i-tend-to-read-non-fiction/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [People tend to read books about a guy who goes back in time or a guy who is living under a pier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/people-tend-to-read-books-about-a-guy-who-goes-back-in-time-or-a-guy/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [I tend to read a lot of books and believe in a certain ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-tend-to-read-a-lot-of-books-and-believe-in-a-certain-ideology/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [I tend to read quite serious things in order to try and appear superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-taylor/i-tend-to-read-quite-serious-things-in-order-to-try-and-appear/) [Ellie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-taylor/) > [I tend not to read reviews; there's too much out there in cyberspace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/i-tend-not-to-read-reviews-there-s-too-much-out-there-in-cyberspace/) [Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/) > [“I have to admit that most of the time I read in the same way that I smoke and chew gum and jiggle my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/i-have-to-admit-that-most-of-the-time-i-read-in-the-same-way-that-i/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [I don't buy books, ever... and I only tend to read the sports press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/i-don-t-buy-books-ever-and-i-only-tend-to-read-the-sports-press/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [I don't tend to re-read things, but never say never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-don-t-tend-to-re-read-things-but-never-say-never/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I don't read that many books - I tend to read scripts for projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/i-don-t-read-that-many-books-i-tend-to-read-scripts-for-projects/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [I tend to read 'The New York Times' and 'The Washington Post' online, and I go to the website for the BBC. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-tend-to-read-the-new-york-times-and-the-washington-post-online-and/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [We tend to read each other's books in sizeable chunks as they are written. I don't know that you could say we are ruthless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/we-tend-to-read-each-other-s-books-in-sizeable-chunks-as-they-are/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) > [I tend to read things that are a little more on the nourishing side. But if I don't enjoy something, I'll put it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/i-tend-to-read-things-that-are-a-little-more-on-the-nourishing-side/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [I like to give and get basically anything (I love to read) but especially fiction and poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzan-lori-parks/i-like-to-give-and-get-basically-anything-i-love-to-read-but/) [Suzan-Lori Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzan-lori-parks/) ## More by Stephen Dobyns > [Love doesn't need a reason. Hate needs a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/love-doesn-t-need-a-reason-hate-needs-a-reason/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“Isn't that why you want to shoot yourself? To make a protest against change?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/isn-t-that-why-you-want-to-shoot-yourself-to-make-a-protest-against/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“If he could not find beauty, nothing else would be worth finding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/if-he-could-not-find-beauty-nothing-else-would-be-worth-finding/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [He thinks of that ocean house and wishes he were back in his former life or that one could take one moment and remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/he-thinks-of-that-ocean-house-and-wishes-he-were-back-in-his-former/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [My wife's dying upstairs and I can't do anything about it. I look in her face and I see the memories there. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/my-wife-s-dying-upstairs-and-i-can-t-do-anything-about-it-i-look-in/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Each thing I do, I rush through so I can do something else. In such a way do the days pass---a blend of stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/each-thing-i-do-i-rush-through-so-i-can-do-something-else-in-such-a/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“A work of art gives testimony to what it is to be a human being. It bears witness, it extracts meaning. A work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/a-work-of-art-gives-testimony-to-what-it-is-to-be-a-human-being-it/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“It was not that she felt any allegiance to the truth. God knows she had cheated on too many men for the truth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/it-was-not-that-she-felt-any-allegiance-to-the-truth-god-knows-she/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [I'm reading "The Sunset of a Splendid Century" by W.H. Lewis. He was C.S. Lewis's brother. He wrote two books about the French court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/i-m-reading-the-sunset-of-a-splendid-century-by-w-h-lewis-he-was-c-s/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else.. in such a way do the days pass.. I see all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/each-thing-i-do-i-rush-through-so-i-can-do-something-else-in-such-a-2/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [It was as if pain were a room he had entered and the door had been locked behind him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/it-was-as-if-pain-were-a-room-he-had-entered-and-the-door-had-been/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Many of my poems try to use a comic element to reach a place that isn't comic at all. The comic element works as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/many-of-my-poems-try-to-use-a-comic-element-to-reach-a-place-that-isn/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [I majored in English in college and that was my major in graduate school before switching to creative writing. I read a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/i-majored-in-english-in-college-and-that-was-my-major-in-graduate/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Sometimes someone will tell me about an author I've never heard of before and that will send me to that person. That's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/sometimes-someone-will-tell-me-about-an-author-i-ve-never-heard-of/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“Like this week.” “So you’re Carl’s replacement?” “I guess you could say that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/like-this-week-so-you-re-carl-s-replacement-i-guess-you-could-say-that/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) [Explore all 50 Stephen Dobyns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) ## 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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