One thing I’ve noticed while reading non-fiction: the best writers tell really good stories.

In Lost Connections, Johann Hari begins each chapter with a case study filled with physical descriptions, quotes, and character development. When discussing how nature affects mental health, for instance, he introduces real people whose lives illustrate the science, bringing abstract concepts to life. Most journal articles are occupied with citing numbers and studies, making them less accessible to the public.

Nearly every popular non-fiction book does this. Sapiens is a story about humanity, not a chronological account of its evolution. Although Yuval Noah Harari doesn’t write anything new, he retells our species’ journey with vivid images and characters. Practically no other history book has done this as effectively.

Even the Bible, the most read book in the world, is no different. How many times did Jesus opt to use parables in his sermons instead of a simple message? “God will always accept you” and “It is hard to be a Christian” isn’t as memorable as the Parable of the Prodigal Son or the Rich Young Man. These stories have lasted across millennia and are retold in sermons across the world today precisely because they embed teachings within memorable narratives.

The potency of stories to share ideas that stick is what gives me hope about fiction’s future. Every novel, at its essence, is a collection of lessons disguised as entertainment. And the more good stories we can tell, the better vehicles for lasting ideas we create.