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The surprising benefits of reading fiction
Fiction shapes empathy, focus, and mental health.
Welcome to The Smarter Brain, a curation of thought-provoking ideas and actionable reads to help you build better habits and become more productive.
Happy reading - See you on Sunday!
Cheers,
The Smarter Brain Team
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
3 Ideas for Better Habits
The Illusion Effect
Cognitive story expert, Lisa Cron, on the brain science behind compelling storytelling.
“Evolution dictates that the first job of any good story is to completely anesthetize the part of our brain that questions how it is creating such a compelling illusion of reality.”
Born to Imagine
Scholar Jonathan Gottschall on the evolutionary power of storytelling.
“We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.”
Depth in Words
Technology critic, Nicholas Carr, on how digital life reshapes our minds.
“In the quiet spaces opened up by the prolonged, undistracted reading of a book, people made their own associations, drew their own inferences and analogies, fostered their own ideas. They thought deeply as they read deeply.”
Remember More, Learn Better
Readwise helps you retain and organize highlights from your reading by syncing notes across apps and sending daily review emails. It’s the perfect tool to make your reading stick and boost your knowledge over time.
Productivity Tools and Resources
7 Reasons Your Brain Loves a Good Novel
This piece explores the wide-ranging mental and physical benefits of consistent reading - especially fiction. It explains how daily engagement with narrative strengthens the brain's neural networks, enhances vocabulary and focus, and even slows age-related cognitive decline.
How Novels Wire Your Brain for Compassion
This article explores how fiction reading activates mirror neurons - brain cells that respond when we observe others’ actions or emotions - allowing readers to experience others’ feelings firsthand. This neurological engagement fosters empathy, compassion, and altruistic behavior.
Never Run Out of Great Reads Again
The StoryGraph is a personalized book tracking and recommendation platform that helps readers discover new books based on their reading preferences and mood. It offers detailed insights, customizable reading goals, and community-driven book reviews, making it easy to organize your reading journey and find your next great read
What We're Reading
The Browser Newsletter - Unearth the best writing on the web, handpicked daily to feed your curiosity and broaden your perspective. Each issue delivers a curated selection of exceptional articles, essays, and insights across culture, science, philosophy, and beyond - helping you stay informed, inspired, and intellectually nourished.
NextDraft Newsletter - Get the day’s most fascinating news, expertly curated and cleverly summarized by Dave Pell. From headlines to hidden gems, each edition delivers sharp wit, smart commentary, and a uniquely human take on what’s happening in the world - so you’re always informed, entertained, and a step ahead.
Brain Food
Today I Learned: Reading fiction for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. (Source)
Science: Escaping into fictional worlds reduces stress levels and boosts mood. (Source)
Have a productive rest of your week,
The Smarter Brain Team
Resource Spotlight
Fiction, Focus & Neuroplasticity
Monthly dispatches for curious minds who treat reading as a tool for transformation - not distraction. This one dives into how engaging with fiction wires your brain for empathy, deep thinking, and creative problem-solving. Less fluff, more functional brain science for people who want mental agility that lasts longer than dopamine hits.
Reading as Brain Architecture
Forget hacks. This dispatch explores how stories literally shape your brain’s neural structure. It’s not just comprehension - it’s cognitive remodeling. Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this one’s for anyone who believes books are more than entertainment - they’re neural blueprints for resilience and insight.
Storytelling for Mental Strength
This isn’t literary fluff - it’s neuroscience. Fiction activates brain regions tied to motion, emotion, and meaning. This dispatch breaks down why immersive reading is like resistance training for the mind. It’s for people who want their inner world as disciplined and dynamic as their outer one.
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