JanineYou are what you read?
July 7th 2008 04:05
I couldn't sleep last night and turned on Radio National for some quality white noise but instead actively listened. The Book Show's lead interview followed up on a New Scientist story reporting on how specifically reading fiction allows us to be more empathetic - apparently the emotional journey we go on with the characters makes us better in person.
An interesting idea, although I wonder about the veracity of the study - what about reading biography (as the presenter asked)? And what about science or detective fiction as opposed to Jane Austen? I need to read more about this to work out what I really think.
There were other interesting aspects of this that worked for me though: firstly, a science story on The Book Show. A first, I wonder? Secondly the cognitive psychologist Keith Oatley saying that he was getting the credit only because he was the oldest in the team.
However, the absolute highlight for me was hearing a senior scientist actually giving credit to his PhD student for a good portion of the work. Wonders will never cease...
An interesting idea, although I wonder about the veracity of the study - what about reading biography (as the presenter asked)? And what about science or detective fiction as opposed to Jane Austen? I need to read more about this to work out what I really think.
There were other interesting aspects of this that worked for me though: firstly, a science story on The Book Show. A first, I wonder? Secondly the cognitive psychologist Keith Oatley saying that he was getting the credit only because he was the oldest in the team.
However, the absolute highlight for me was hearing a senior scientist actually giving credit to his PhD student for a good portion of the work. Wonders will never cease...
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