/lit/ - Literature

The most sought benefit people try to derive from reading seems to self improvement,

I read around 20-30 books a year mostly because I want to learn more about the world and other people. But I feel like I'm reading passively. I feel like I basically haven't changed since I was 13 and may have gotten worse personality wise (I'm a bit of a lazy, good for nothing prick and have no sense of morals).

I don't expect reading to help me get a job or a girlfriend or anything, but have you found reading has improved your life? If so, how?

Have you been "actively" reading? How do you do that and if not that, what other ways have you let reading improve your life? Should I read something other than fiction, history and economic books? Should I finally figure out how to read poetry and plays? Will that help?