About reading fiction apart from technical things - I believe that fiction writing is important and practical for society as a whole in a way similar to how thought experiments and simulations are important for scientists. Writers of books and TV shows create imaginery worlds in which they set up different scenarios, create problems and propose solutions. Those stories often create discussions, in which people generate and evaluate ideas.
For example, many science-fiction fans get involved in lengthy discussions about physics of space travel and social consequences of technology that doesn't exist yet. But it might exist in the future, as it is with ie. Orson Scott Card's writings exploring influence of global information network on society and governments back in 1980-s.
I believe the same applies to other genres as well - good stories contain simulations of events that might not be happening right now around us, but one day they might. It's a human way to create solutions before real problems strike hard.
> For example, many science-fiction fans get involved in lengthy discussions about physics [...]
This always bothers me when talking to sci-fi fans that only read sci-fi. It also bothers me in more modern sci-fi when the author puts too much time into explaining the mechanics of whatever concepts are used.
The 1950s, 1960s and the earlier 1970s sci-fi is usually about ideas. The 'science' is mostly there as a plot device. This gives the author huge freedom to just take an idea (however absurd) and run with it.
Whatever kind of fiction your read, though, it's always characters, their development and their reaction to the environment that they find themselves in that is the key to a good story.
(Yes, there is plenty of good sci-fi to be found today, from the hard kind to the lyrical/meta-physical kind, I'm just commenting on the general development of the genre. Also, see Sturgeon's Law).
For example, many science-fiction fans get involved in lengthy discussions about physics of space travel and social consequences of technology that doesn't exist yet. But it might exist in the future, as it is with ie. Orson Scott Card's writings exploring influence of global information network on society and governments back in 1980-s.
I believe the same applies to other genres as well - good stories contain simulations of events that might not be happening right now around us, but one day they might. It's a human way to create solutions before real problems strike hard.