The Mountaineer Reading Room

“Fiction is a simulation that runs on the software of our minds.”

Keith Oatley and his colleagues at the University of Toronto have performed some research that delves into an interesting question: Why read books?  Well, it appears that there’s now some scientific evidence that fiction–more so than other forms of reading–helps one learn to better “negotiate the complexities of the social world.”  In other words, by identifying with the characters in a story, the reader gains experience empathizing with others, solving social problems and gaining broader social perspective in a virtual setting.

I’m reminded of a quote from the movie Shadowlands that has stuck with me: “we read so we know we’re not alone.”  OK, maybe that’s a paraphrase (it’s been a few years), but it gets to the heart of the matter.

Perhaps I should watch Shadowlands again–it’s a good movie.

So, is it just a coincidence that the rise of the modern novel occurs just as Englightenment ideas and social innovations really begin take hold in Europe?  Perhaps guys like Cortes and De Soto (I’m currently reading about the Conquistadors) would have been a little easier on the natives had they read a few more novels in their formative years?  Would modern politicians benefit from a rigorous “Great Books” seminar?  If so, any recommendations?