Bookworms, rejoice! Though reading fiction is sometimes viewed as a way to escape from the “real world,” studies have shown that it can foster benevolent social behaviors — and there might be an evolutionary reason for this. In effect, novel readers peer into the minds of others through point of view and live a variety of experiences through richly-developed characters. Whereas nonfiction has a greater emphasis on observation and objectivity.
In this animated short, Mark Maynard demonstrates how the act of reading fiction can profoundly improve empathy and one’s attitude towards marginalized groups.
