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Fiction enhances our ability to understand other people; it promotes a deep morality that cuts across religious and political creeds. More peculiarly, fiction’s happy endings have important effects for society — and it may even help explain why humans tell stories in the first place.
- Studies show that when we read nonfiction, we read with our shields up. We are critical and skeptical. But when we are absorbed in a story, we drop our intellectual guard. We are moved emotionally, and this seems to make us rubbery and easy to shape.
I love this point, a lot of people debating on the internet don't get it sometimes. You don't need the best logical argument to win, it can just require connecting with your audience. A great example of a story with an argument is The Cider House Rules, though sadly I've only seen the movie, not the book.
Since you obviously agree fiction is good for us, want to join my book club? :)
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