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?

It’s just a good thing I didn’t have an Xbox. I’m not sure I would have completed Middle School.

There have been many articles written about Sir Arthur over the last few days, but my favorite is from Alan Boyle’s very cool Cosmic Blog. Apparently, Clarke’s hair will one day be launched to the stars, where it will await an encounter with a species capable of reconstituting Clarke via his DNA. He’d have an interesting story to tell.

Jorge Luis Borges is a difficult writer to classify, which, of course, makes him all the more interesting. How best to describe him? Perhaps as an “Anglo-Argentine classicist-inspired fantasy writer with magical realist and science fiction tendencies.” Now Noam Cohen adds cyberpunk and Web 2.0 visionary to the list in this article in the New York Times. You’ll find the collection of short stories mentioned in the article, Labyrinths, in the RHS collection.

Additionally, Borges is the author of my favorite poem, Juan Lopez y John Ward. Here’s my English translation:

Luckily, it was a strange time.

The planet had been divided into different countries,
Each one with its loyalties, dear memories,
An undoubtedly heroic past,
Ancient or recent traditions, rights,
Serious offenses, a peculiar mythology, heroes of bronze,
Anniversaries, demagogues and symbols.

This arbitrary division was favorable to wars.

Lopez was born in the city beside the immobile river;
Ward, in the outskirts of the city through which walked Father Brown.
He had studied Spanish in order to read Quixote.

The other professed a love for Conrad, which had been discovered
In a classroom on Viamonte Street.

They should have been friends, but they saw each other only once face to face,
On some unnecessarily famous islands, and each one of the two
Was Cain, and each one, Abel.

They were buried together. The snow and corruption know them.
The event I refer to happened in a time that we can’t understand.

For some background, read about the Falklands War of 1982, a conflict which Borges famously compared to “two bald men fighting over a comb.”

I’m looking forward to trying it out.

You’ll want to read this one. I might need to go back to Costco for seconds.

Check out the reviews of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian on Amazon.com.

Or, listen to an interview with Sherman Alexie on NPR.

Want more? Check out his official Web site.