Draft in progress — full essay coming soon.
The growth shelf and the literature shelf are usually treated as different disciplines. One is practical, the other decorative. One is for becoming a better person, the other is for pretending to be a smarter one. I don’t think this is right.
What non-fiction is for
Non-fiction gives you arguments. It makes claims you can test against your own experience.
What fiction is for
Fiction gives you company. It puts you inside a life you would never otherwise live, and asks you to carry it for a while.
Arguments reach the mind. Company reaches the nervous system.
Reading both
Read them together. Read them against each other. The two halves of your reading life should argue with each other, not ignore each other.