Kate Hennessy, Features Editor
“Are we ever too old to read Harry Potter?” The short answer is no. According to a survey by Statista in April 2023, 43% of GenZers identify as avid Harry Potter fans. According to the Harvard Business Review, reading fiction also causes the reader to gain more empathy and social insight. It does not only have great benefits but also brings a childlike sensation that many adults need in their lives. Fiction should not be restricted to just young kids because fiction, especially Harry Potter, brings people together.
From a young age, I have been a huge Harry Potter fan. I have read the series around 30 times and watched the movies at least double that. Curling up with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on a rainy day brings many people joy, and they feel even happier when it brings communities and groups of people together. All around the world, people are connected with their love for Harry Potter. Throughout elementary school, I had a pen-pal from a village in Kenya to whom I would send each book in the series, and then we would discuss the books together. These books had the power to bring two people together from different hemispheres, bonding them over a common interest; reading builds communities. Even with old friends, it brings us closer. With most of my friends, we could spend hours discussing our Hogwarts houses or fan theories, and quite frankly, we have. Reading Harry Potter strengthens both new and old friendships.
Besides pure enjoyment, reading fiction increases necessary life skills such as compassion. This is an excellent tool for children to learn at such a young age. It is an essential trait that will help these children go far in life. It is also beneficial for adults as reading fiction inherently puts you in someone else’s position. In a workplace setting, this is very useful for creating a tight-knit work community and helps “humanize” coworkers so they do not just see them as another project. Additionally, high schoolers need empathy as it causes students to develop stronger social relationships, improve their communication skills, and foster a sense of compassion and kindness. This is advantageous for both the social and educational aspects of high school.
Reading fiction has many benefits for all ages. Whether you’re an elementary student opening up Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for the first time, a high schooler re-reading a series for the 10th time, or in your late 60s and entering a brand new fictional world, fantasy can change your life for the better.
