Beach Reads for Better Living How Literary Fiction Fosters Empathy
“There is no frigate like a book / To take us lands away.” –Emily Dickinson
According to novelist Louise Erdrich, the study “found a way to prove true the intangible benefits of literary fiction.” For advocates of deeply reading great works — the oft-maligned English majors and art nerds — these results demonstrate scientifically what people have known intuitively for hundreds of years. Reading a novel may not lead to the observable changes of lifestyle that reading a fitness book might, but it can change you in ways that are just as significant. Great fiction lets us see into the mind of another, albeit created, person and their world. Experiencing these worlds can help us better understand and interact with people in real life. Literary fiction, which encompasses everything from classics like “Pride and Prejudice” to contemporary works like “My Brilliant Friend,” shouldn’t be regarded as serious, boring stuff you only read in school. Immersing yourself in a great book can make you a better person while having a great deal of fun. Sounds like a win-win to us.
People read different books for different reasons. Self-betterment and business strategy books, for example, have clear-cut takeaways for the reader. It’s not hard to see the benefits of reading texts like these, but what about reading fiction? Literature has been a staple of cultures around the world since time immemorial. Is that simply because appreciating the arts provides the “highest quality to your moments as they pass,” as cultural critic Walter Pater suggested in 1868? Or is there something measurable that fiction teaches us? Many scientists have been asking these questions over the past decade and their results may surprise you. In a landmark study published in the journal Science, two researchers from the New School found that reading literary fiction develops social perception, empathy, and emotional intelligence. By “literary fiction,” the researchers mean works with aspirations as complex art, rather than nonfiction manuals or simple page-turners. While there are no hard-and-fast rules for what makes a piece of fiction literary, it’s not hard to Google a list of literary fiction from any time period.
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Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops
Inspired by paleoleap.com
Ingredients
“When I started, stairs were like Halloween — really spooky! So when I got to ProPT, I didn’t expect to get better. But as I continued coming here over and over again, I started to realize something. The people here are not monotonous, and they didn’t follow strict guidelines on what to say or what to do. They cared for each and every person who walked through these magical and life-changing doors. The people who work here are friendly and always remember my name. They always say ‘work hard!’ to give me positive encouragement. Here is one last and sincere thank-you!”
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1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
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4 boneless pork chops 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons raw honey 2 cloves garlic, minced
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Directions 1. Heat oven to 400 F.
–Kyle Bates
2. Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper.
3. In a saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme.
4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 5–6 minutes.
5. On high heat in an oven-safe saute pan or skillet, sear the pork chops for 1–2 minutes on each side.
6. Brush chops with half of glaze and transfer to oven.
“The laser therapy was super convenient and easy. It was something that actually relaxed me. I had trouble doing day-to-day activities where I had to stand for a long time. Laser therapy definitely brought down the pain and inflammation.”
7. Roast 6–8 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and brush with another coat of glaze. Let cool 5–10 minutes and serve.
–Niharika Verma
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
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