The Secret Power of Fiction

Evan Swensen
April 30, 2025

Did you know your brain can’t always distinguish between reading about and living an experience? It’s true—and it’s one of those little nuggets of fun trivia that’s too good not to share.

Something incredible happens beneath the surface when someone curls up with Pride and Prejudice or dives headfirst into The Hunger Games. Thanks to some fascinating MRI studies, researchers discovered that reading fiction activates the same parts of the brain used when experiencing real events. In short: your brain doesn’t just read the story—it lives it.

Think about it. When Elizabeth Bennet locks horns with Mr. Darcy, your brain lights up as if you’re exchanging sharp, witty remarks across a candlelit ballroom. When Katniss Everdeen ducks through the forest, desperate to survive, your mind fires as though you are the one dodging arrows. It’s not just entertainment—it’s an emotional dress rehearsal for real life.

Pretty wild, right?

Even wilder, this brain magic doesn’t end when you close the book. It lingers. Reading fiction strengthens the parts of the brain responsible for empathy—those special circuits helping you understand and care about other people’s feelings. Essentially, novels are secret empathy workshops tucked between two covers.

Maybe that’s why it’s impossible not to see the world a little differently after finishing To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee’s story doesn’t just explain injustice—it invites readers to feel it alongside Atticus Finch and Scout. Readers walk a mile in someone else’s shoes without leaving their armchair.

And it’s not just the big literary classics that work this magic. Cozy mysteries, fantasy adventures, or heartfelt romances flex those empathy muscles. Whether you’re solving crimes with Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express or grieving lost love in The Fault in Our Stars, your brain is working behind the scenes—building bridges of understanding and compassion.

Here’s another fun twist: Science suggests this empathy boost isn’t just a fleeting effect. The more often people read fiction, the stronger their empathy over time. It’s like the gym for your heart. Instead of lifting weights, you’re lifting stories—and somehow ending up better equipped to handle real-world relationships, emotions, and conflicts.

So, the next time someone gives you a hard time for reading “just for fun,” feel free to flash a knowing smile. You’re not just having fun. You’re training your brain to be a kinder, wiser, more emotionally intelligent version of yourself. (And let’s be honest—escaping into The Lord of the Rings sounds much more enjoyable than spending another hour on a treadmill.)

In a world that sometimes feels like it’s running low on empathy, maybe the best thing we can do is pick up another novel.
Read for the plot twists. Read for the gorgeous sentences. Read for the sheer joy of it. But know that every page you turn quietly builds a better, more empathetic you.

Fun trivia like this makes reading feel even more magical.

Next time you’re lost in Little Women or The Great Gatsby, remember: your brain is doing more than you realize. It’s not just a story—it’s a superpower.

Want more fun trivia like this? Stick around—there’s always another literary oddity waiting to be discovered! Readers and Writers Book Club, where we dig into the fascinating lives of authors, swap trivia about literary legends, and explore hidden stories behind the books we love. If this bit of trivia intrigues you, wait until you hear what else is hiding in the pages of history. Come on in— I promise, there’s always room for another curious mind!

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