Paul and I Like to Read Good Literature

Abstract

To honor Paul Ornstein’s 90th birthday, his passion for good literature and his devotion to the study of Dostoyevsky, in particular, are honored. Research is cited that demonstrates that reading good fiction, compared to popular fiction or non-fiction, increases one’s empathy. It is suggested that good literature, books that focus on character, engage the reader’s affect and opens their inner worlds and promotes their imagination. In contrast, popular literature is plot driven and does not require such subjective expansion.