Why Stories Matter: The Secret Behind STEM Innovation

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When people think about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), they often picture scientists in labs, engineers designing machines, or programmers writing code. But what if the real secret behind technological breakthroughs wasn’t just math and science—but stories?

Mike, Sci-Fi, and a Surprising Lesson from Bill Gates

I had a high school friend named Mike, who was from Czechoslovakia. He was obsessed with fantasy and science fiction, devouring books about futuristic worlds, time travel, and alien civilizations. But his father—a STEM-loving engineer—hated it.

Mike’s dad believed that serious students should focus on physics and chemistry textbooks, not waste time on make-believe. To him, science fiction was a distraction, not a tool for learning.

One evening, Mike was reading when his dad came home from work, saw the book in his hands, and erupted in frustration.

"Mike! According to your life, all you do is read this nonsense!" he scolded.

But Mike remained calm. Holding up the book, he simply said:

"Dad, look at the last person who checked this book out."

Curious, his dad took the book, flipped to the checkout card, and froze.

The name written there? Bill Gates.

Yes—that Bill Gates.

Back in the early 1970s, before founding Microsoft, Gates had borrowed the exact same science fiction book from the library.

Mike’s dad stared at the name for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, he finally admitted:

"I guess I was wrong. You should just read all the sci-fi you can get your hands on."

That night, Mike didn’t just win an argument—he proved a powerful truth: science fiction isn’t a waste of time. It’s fuel for the future.

Bill Gates: A Lifetime of Reading and Thinking

Mike’s dad may have learned his lesson that day, but Bill Gates himself had already discovered the power of books long before that moment. His reading habits, which started in childhood, would go on to shape the future of technology in ways no one could have predicted.

Bill Gates' love for reading started early—so early, in fact, that his parents had to forbid books at the dinner table because he couldn’t put them down. As a teen, he spent hours volunteering at the Seattle Public Library, a place that would later receive major donations from him as a philanthropist. 

Even as he built Microsoft, Gates never lost his obsession with books. Twice a year, he disappeared to a secluded cottage on Puget Sound for his legendary “Think Weeks.” With nothing but stacks of books, Diet Coke, and yellow legal pads, he devoured ideas at a pace of 15 books per retreat—reading nearly 50 books a year.

Einstein and Fairy Tales: The Power of Imagination

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest scientists of all time, believed that imagination was more important than knowledge. When asked how to raise smart children, he didn’t suggest more math drills—he said:

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

Why? Because stories train the mind to think beyond what exists. They help children and adults alike dream, question, and invent—the same skills that drive scientific breakthroughs.

The China-Silicon Valley Connection

In 2007, Neil Gaiman, a famous author, visited China and discovered something surprising. For years, China had banned science fiction. But suddenly, they were investing in sci-fi books, movies, and writers.

Why the change?

Chinese officials explained that they had sent researchers to Silicon Valley to figure out what made it so innovative. Their shocking conclusion? It wasn’t business schools or engineering programs or office parks or venture capital. The key to Silicon Valley’s success was science fiction.

Many of the top tech innovators had grown up reading Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Philip K. Dick. These books helped them dream of self-driving cars, AI, space travel, and even smartphones—long before they existed.

Science Fiction Predicts the Future

Many of today’s biggest inventions were imagined in science fiction first:

  • The Internet? Predicted by William Gibson’s Neuromancer.

  • Smartphones? Inspired by the Star Trek communicator.

  • Robots and AI? Isaac Asimov’s books shaped how we think about artificial intelligence.

  • Space travel? Jules Verne imagined rockets landing on the moon 100 years before it happened.

Why the Humanities Matter in STEM

Some people think reading, philosophy, and the humanities are separate from science and technology. But the truth is, the greatest innovations come from imagination. A good scientist must question, wonder, and envision new possibilities—just like a writer.

That’s why many of the biggest names in tech were science fiction fans:

  • Elon Musk read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as a kid.

  • Bill Gates recommends The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov.

  • Jeff Bezos credits Star Trek with inspiring Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa.

Without stories and imagination, we wouldn’t have the technology we use today.

The Takeaway: Read More Science Fiction!

If you want to change the world, start by reading. Science fiction teaches us to ask, "What if?"—and that question leads to discovery. Whether you’re a future scientist, engineer, artist, or entrepreneur, stories can shape your ideas and fuel your imagination.

So, pick up a sci-fi book. The next great invention might just start with you.

Did you know…?

🤖 In 2014, Elon Musk named his SpaceX drone ships after sentient starships from the sci-fi novel The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks!