A great discussion of how empathy is created is in the front section of James Wood’s book “How Fiction Works” (and this is not the actor who wrote it, btw)
Sarah Mackenzie has been talking about this for years! She even wrote a wonderful book, The Read Aloud Family. It doesn’t have much research cited but it’s such a lovely encouragement to dive deep into fiction. A life-long love of reading can be developed with our children when it’s associated with feelings of comfort and affection.
I've been reading a lot of historical fiction and seeing similarities in present day. Historical fiction helps me to remember how present events will pass and the world will continue.
I hope elementary, middle, and high schools continue to stand firm for the value of teaching fiction to all students. As a teacher of children who had difficulty with reading, I found that my students were moved by the characters in well written fiction. I do believe those books changed their lives.
I love you Adam Grant! But I did read some of the linked studies and they seem to suggest that the impact of reading fiction was weak at best. ( I read those articles after I shared yours with all my most readingest of friends)😢
I love all the things that justify my fiction reading passion - I strongly recommend all the Fredrik Backman novels - I think he does the best job at building layered and complex humans into people you want to see succeed. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6485178.Fredrik_Backman
Love this! Just as a point of extension because people read in so many ways: it’s not necessary to imagine ourselves as the characters for fiction to bolster empathy. The interiority of fiction (differing from film) and the way it invites creative interpretation (differing from nonfiction) are crucial to its role, but not every reader imagines themselves as the characters, and that’s okay. What fiction actually does is improves our capacity for theory of mind—our ability to understand that other people have different perceptions, desires, and intentions that we do, and even predict other people’s behaviors based on that understanding. Theory of mind and empathy are interconnected, and fiction offers us the perfect opportunity to practice that skill by interpreting and predicting what we encounter on the page.
I read a lot, more than most people I would guess, since I read 2-3 books per week, if not more. Yeah, I got a lot of time, but I also read really quickly. I discovered in undergrad that if I read fiction books along side whatever text books I was supposed to be reading, the reading of my textbooks was faster, and I absorbed more information. In other words, I have found reading to be much the same as any other training method, in that the more consistently you do it, the more proficient you become. I’ve also found that the Children’s section of the library offers some of the best books I’ve ever read. The Children’s section is also handy because it often has books that are available when the adult section may be out of the more popular books. Like “Win” for example. The same author has a great children’s book series about Myron Bolitar’s nephew. All of the above, just to say, I agree with your article.
So enjoyed this (read the transcript which I prefer to listening) and related to Allison on so many levels. I also have often said that I feel I was born in the wrong century.
However, the biggest one was the fact of being truthful to children in regard to situations such as vaccinations. I always did the same and could not understand anyone doing otherwise. It’s a matter of truth producing trust.
Agreed, the best works of fiction allow us to empathize with, and see ourselves in the characters and stories they contain. Fictional characters can also display traits we wish to embody ourselves and give us an engaging and relatable showcase for those traits. Fiction can also serve as a metaphor for life itself, and give us food for thought. I have always enjoyed reading fiction since I was a child, and I am not ashamed to say I continue to enjoy fiction even now as an adult. The best fiction helps us reevaluate ourselves, and gives us examples, albeit not real, of the heights to which we can reach
I thought that I was the only one with that view. Yes, I like to challenge myself with serious stuff about success and growth. But I love thrillers, spy, detective, stories based on historical events such as wars - fictional but we'll researched stories that get you to almost believe that you've been to Sri Lanka when you have never been there for example. They help with your own creativity. I'll check out your book list and Allison's. Thanks!
I have good memories of visiting library with ~ Mom. She is an avid reader. Filled a leather bag full of books, back in card catalogue days. Current read: "My Name is Lucy Barton" by Elizabeth Strout. I watched the play with Canadian actor Maev Beaty. A novel brought to life on stage. I can hear Maev's voice, while reading book.
A great discussion of how empathy is created is in the front section of James Wood’s book “How Fiction Works” (and this is not the actor who wrote it, btw)
Reading is so crucial to a well balanced life.
Sarah Mackenzie has been talking about this for years! She even wrote a wonderful book, The Read Aloud Family. It doesn’t have much research cited but it’s such a lovely encouragement to dive deep into fiction. A life-long love of reading can be developed with our children when it’s associated with feelings of comfort and affection.
I've been reading a lot of historical fiction and seeing similarities in present day. Historical fiction helps me to remember how present events will pass and the world will continue.
Loved your episode with Allison. Yes, to more Allison on the podcast. Looking forward to reading her book.
Thank you for absolving me of the need to defend my fiction reading against those who think non-fiction is superior. Silly argument, that.
Have you read Chris Whitaker's "All the Colors of the Dark"? Well-written, deep and powerful, with mystery and raw emotion.
To me, the mark of a great novel is that I think about the characters long after I finish reading it. This is one of those novels.
I completely agree…
I read last month...that one stays with you.
I hope elementary, middle, and high schools continue to stand firm for the value of teaching fiction to all students. As a teacher of children who had difficulty with reading, I found that my students were moved by the characters in well written fiction. I do believe those books changed their lives.
I love you Adam Grant! But I did read some of the linked studies and they seem to suggest that the impact of reading fiction was weak at best. ( I read those articles after I shared yours with all my most readingest of friends)😢
They’re small effects because they’re small treatments! Awfully hard to randomly assign people to a lifetime of fiction
I love all the things that justify my fiction reading passion - I strongly recommend all the Fredrik Backman novels - I think he does the best job at building layered and complex humans into people you want to see succeed. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6485178.Fredrik_Backman
agree!
Love this! Just as a point of extension because people read in so many ways: it’s not necessary to imagine ourselves as the characters for fiction to bolster empathy. The interiority of fiction (differing from film) and the way it invites creative interpretation (differing from nonfiction) are crucial to its role, but not every reader imagines themselves as the characters, and that’s okay. What fiction actually does is improves our capacity for theory of mind—our ability to understand that other people have different perceptions, desires, and intentions that we do, and even predict other people’s behaviors based on that understanding. Theory of mind and empathy are interconnected, and fiction offers us the perfect opportunity to practice that skill by interpreting and predicting what we encounter on the page.
I read a lot, more than most people I would guess, since I read 2-3 books per week, if not more. Yeah, I got a lot of time, but I also read really quickly. I discovered in undergrad that if I read fiction books along side whatever text books I was supposed to be reading, the reading of my textbooks was faster, and I absorbed more information. In other words, I have found reading to be much the same as any other training method, in that the more consistently you do it, the more proficient you become. I’ve also found that the Children’s section of the library offers some of the best books I’ve ever read. The Children’s section is also handy because it often has books that are available when the adult section may be out of the more popular books. Like “Win” for example. The same author has a great children’s book series about Myron Bolitar’s nephew. All of the above, just to say, I agree with your article.
So enjoyed this (read the transcript which I prefer to listening) and related to Allison on so many levels. I also have often said that I feel I was born in the wrong century.
However, the biggest one was the fact of being truthful to children in regard to situations such as vaccinations. I always did the same and could not understand anyone doing otherwise. It’s a matter of truth producing trust.
This has made me think more about this subject.
I haven’t read a novel in 15 years. I choose to read non fiction to increase my knowledge.
More recently I have been thinking about novels and that I would like to start again.
Thank you for this post Adam and to your wife Alison.
I have put I am caged in my basket to get when my next book allowance is due.
(I give myself an allowance as I was buying more than I could read and getting obsessed with buying books!)
I am already looking forward to sitting on my sofa with a cuppa and a novel!
Agreed, the best works of fiction allow us to empathize with, and see ourselves in the characters and stories they contain. Fictional characters can also display traits we wish to embody ourselves and give us an engaging and relatable showcase for those traits. Fiction can also serve as a metaphor for life itself, and give us food for thought. I have always enjoyed reading fiction since I was a child, and I am not ashamed to say I continue to enjoy fiction even now as an adult. The best fiction helps us reevaluate ourselves, and gives us examples, albeit not real, of the heights to which we can reach
I thought that I was the only one with that view. Yes, I like to challenge myself with serious stuff about success and growth. But I love thrillers, spy, detective, stories based on historical events such as wars - fictional but we'll researched stories that get you to almost believe that you've been to Sri Lanka when you have never been there for example. They help with your own creativity. I'll check out your book list and Allison's. Thanks!
I have good memories of visiting library with ~ Mom. She is an avid reader. Filled a leather bag full of books, back in card catalogue days. Current read: "My Name is Lucy Barton" by Elizabeth Strout. I watched the play with Canadian actor Maev Beaty. A novel brought to life on stage. I can hear Maev's voice, while reading book.
I ADORE Elizabeth Strout; that's an author who really helps you feel things.