Nathan Baugh, a storyteller and creator of World Builders, discusses the transformative power of fiction as a form of self-discovery. He argues that fiction offers more than just entertainment; it fosters empathy and resilience. Nathan shares his journey from a corporate career to writing, tackling the challenge of balancing passion with financial stability. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on storytelling and the need for human connection in creative processes. Dive into how fiction can be a vital tool for personal growth!
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insights INSIGHT
Fiction's Unique Life Lessons
Classic fiction offers valuable life lessons often more memorable than nonfiction self-help books.
Fiction taps deeply into human experience, enriching empathy, creativity, and resilience beyond typical nonfiction.
insights INSIGHT
Nonfiction’s Blog Post Roots
Many nonfiction bestsellers originated as popular blog posts, suggesting brevity and accessibility drive their success.
Fiction's lasting impact contrasts with nonfiction's often condensed, blog-like value.
insights INSIGHT
Fiction Engages Imagination Uniquely
Many dismiss fiction as mere entertainment compared to nonfiction's perceived seriousness.
In 'Red Rising: The Washington Capitals Story', Ted Starkey chronicles the transformation and resurgence of the Washington Capitals. The book includes original interviews with key figures from the team, providing a detailed and personal look at the team's history, challenges, and successes.
The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God[1][3][4].
The Lessons of History
Will Durant
Written by Will and Ariel Durant after completing the 10th volume of their 'The Story of Civilization' series, 'The Lessons of History' provides an overview of the themes and lessons observed from human history. The book examines history from various perspectives including geography, biology, race, character, morals, religion, economics, socialism, government, war, growth and decay, and progress. The Durants discuss the recurring themes of history, such as the balance between liberty and equality, the role of economics, and the inevitability of human nature's influence on historical events. They argue that while there are no predictable regularities in the course of civilizations, there are common factors that contribute to their growth and decline[1][3][5].
Dune
Frank Herbert
Dune, written by Frank Herbert, is set in a feudal interstellar society where noble houses control planetary fiefs. The story follows Paul Atreides, whose family is tasked with ruling the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of melange, a substance crucial for extending life and enhancing mental abilities. The novel delves into the intricate politics, religion, ecology, and technology of this futuristic world, as various factions vie for control of Arrakis and its valuable spice. Paul, with his unique abilities and training by the Bene Gesserit, becomes a key figure in this struggle and eventually assumes the role of a messianic leader among the native Fremen people[2][5][4].
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].
"Most nonfiction books could’ve been blog posts—but fiction sticks with you for life." — Nathan Baugh
Is fiction just entertainment—or is it the best self-help you’re not reading? In this episode, Rain Bennett sits down with storyteller, writer, and World Builders creator Nathan Baugh to talk about the power of fiction in a world obsessed with productivity, optimization, and self-help checklists.
Together they explore the overlooked lessons hiding in classic novels, the creative trap of only producing for money, and the rising role of AI in the writing world.
Nathan opens up about how he left a traditional job to build a platform as a writer, how he balances client work with his fantasy novels, and why his mission is to simply write stories he’d want to read.
They also break down what makes a twist land, how storytelling frameworks translate across mediums, and the unexpected ways fiction can deepen human connection. If you're trying to create meaningful work in a noisy digital world, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Reframe fiction as a powerful personal development tool, not just an escape or guilty pleasure.
Balance monetized work with meaningful creative output, even if your art doesn’t pay off immediately.
Strengthen your audience connection by telling stories about your own struggles, not just giving advice.
Understand how fiction builds empathy, creativity, and resilience in ways nonfiction often can't.
Navigate the impact of AI on creative work by doubling down on voice, experience, and storytelling fundamentals.
The Storytelling Lab 
