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Back in my publishing days, one advice I often told my writers is to “have a narrative”. No matter what subject they were covering – and by extension, whatever message they were trying to convey – it can always be told through a story.
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The outline was simple: 1) Pick one (or a few) character to follow; 2) Provide the readers with a fair amount of context; 3) Go through the rise and fall of the character’s journey.
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As a greenhorn editor back then, it was just one of those advice that make sense in my head, especially considering the mass audience we were trying to reach. Compared to the English sister-site where we directly addressed any particular issues, the Bahasa counterpart needed a softer approach.
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In retrospect, I wonder if I infantilized my audience? Were there instances where I sacrificed important information over good storytelling? Where is the line between education and entertainment?
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Now as a teacher, as I’m preparing my first lesson plan for next year, it is the perfect time to revisit this thought.
Stories for children
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When we were children, how did we learn about right and wrong? Growing up in a Malay Muslim household where both identities were inextricably intertwined, religious stories were the most direct way to enforce what are considered acceptable behaviours and what aren’t.
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And then there were fables, fairy tales, and myths. Cerita Sang Kancil taught us the importance of wit, while Pak Pandir cautioned us on what would happen without it.
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(Also, is it just me, or do fables from the West always have more satisfying endings where the villains got their comeuppance? In the Bahasa version, they typically ended up with forgiveness.)
Non-fictions for adults
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My first big introduction into non-fiction and the world of self-help is Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins. His reputation is more polarised these days and I may disagree with the hustle culture he fostered, but I can appreciate how his writings back then made me fall back in love with reading.
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More than the content of the books themselves, what was more important is the impressions they imprinted within me. Unlimited Power solidified the concept of self-determination, while How to Win Friends and Influence People (despite the cynical title) validated my enthusiasm in human connection.
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In other words, these books served more as a tool to explore ideas I was already interested in, and less like a guide I needed to follow.
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However, I do empathize with young adults who flock towards books such as 12 Rules for Life and turn them into some sort of personal creed. They are looking for wisdom on how to navigate modern life and its complexities. Religious texts aren’t as adaptive while philosophy studies aren’t as accessible.
Fictions for adults
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I always had a nagging guilt about not being knowledgeable enough in “important subjects” that make for a good citizen of the world such as history, geopolitics, economy, social justice, and so forth. I shall continue my attempts, but for now I’m cognizant of my shallow level of understanding.
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Which makes me wonder, how else was I inspired to expand and revise my moral positions and personal philosophies all these while? The answer is: through fictions.
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The most impactful films are the ones that make me reflect upon the real world, regardless of the actual quality of said film. The helplessness I felt after watching Joker eventually reinforced my stand that society (at large, or the immediate community) does make a difference on whether an individual flourish or perish.
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Even as adults, stories still play such an important role in helping us make sense of the world.
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While history, philosophy, science, and forth help us make sense of the world through understanding; stories help us make sense of the world through imaginations.
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Originally written on Jan 2025