Why Reading Fiction Makes Us More Empathetic

The Brain on Fiction

Neuroscientists have discovered that when we read about a character experiencing something—whether it's joy, pain, or running through a forest—the same neurological regions light up in our own brains as if we were experiencing it ourselves.

A Simulator for Social Interaction

Reading fiction is like a flight simulator for social interaction. It allows us to step into the shoes of people whose lives, cultures, and struggles are vastly different from our own, without facing real-world consequences.

Long-Term Empathy

Studies show that individuals who frequently read literary fiction perform better on tests measuring empathy and social perception. By engaging with complex characters, we become better equipped to understand the complex people in our real lives.