[Paul Neumann] “Then I saw this research about how people rated high in empathy were also those that read a lot of fiction. People that could insert themselves into a story. “
To take this even further off topic:
There’s a great book called “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari that supposes fiction, or imagined realities/collective myths, is the very foundation of modern humans and therefore society. The ability to believe in something that is not biologically coded in to our nature (the notion of rights as humans, money, freedom, equality, gods and religions), allows us to organize and activate (as well as influence and exploit) across vast distances, and populations. It’s a good read. There’s a companion called Homo Deus that hypothesizes on future societies, and the merging of human and technology. I haven’t read that one yet, but looking forward to it (kinda).