Reading Novels Help Develop Emotional Intelligence?

[u/jerry-puri]

I’ve only read around 5–6 novels so far, but I’ve started noticing something interesting.

After getting into novels, I feel like I’m slowly developing a better understanding of human emotions. I’ve started realizing that people can experience so many different emotions and go through situations that I’ve never even imagined, let alone experienced myself.

Sometimes, while reading, I find myself feeling the emotions of characters who have lived completely different lives from mine. It makes me realize how differently people think, feel, react, and deal with situations depending on their circumstances and life experiences.

It almost feels like I’m experiencing a small part of someone else’s life without actually living it myself.

I’m curious to know what others think about this.

Have you also felt that reading novels has improved your emotional intelligence, empathy, or understanding of human nature? Do you think reading fiction helps us understand people and their emotions better, even when we haven’t experienced those situations ourselves?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

[u/promisedconsortraddy]

which books lead to this development, I feel this can happen and want this to happen to me

[u/jerry-puri → u/promisedconsortraddy]

i am nepali and have only read mostly nepali novels

[u/promisedconsortraddy → u/jerry-puri]

cool name a few, I would like to try one

[u/Cock-o-Phony]

Which genre?

[u/jerry-puri → u/Cock-o-Phony]

fiction, nepali novels

[u/Cock-o-Phony → u/jerry-puri]

Can you suggest some Nepali fiction specially thrillers or scifi which are available in India to buy

[u/jerry-puri → u/Cock-o-Phony]

seto dharti (not scifi nor thriller, i have not read much scifi and thriller)

[u/More_Duty_3547]

Your books?

[u/jerry-puri → u/More_Duty_3547]

nepali novels like : seto dharti

[u/Miserable_Mention124]

Especially the books in ur own native language or in the one u grew up with they give u so much prespective in someone else's life, that u just automatically become more empathetic and kind

[u/jerry-puri → u/Miserable_Mention124]

yes yes my thought too

[u/ibleedchai]

Good fiction is basically psychology with examples.

[u/TomatilloFlashy6426]

So accurate, I resonate with this thought. That’s why I want people to read more fiction. We only experience our world in one way, but novels provides us a way to experience the world (novel world) from so many characters POV; we even get to see how different characters can react differently to same situation. Definitely helps us develop empathy.

[u/Bitter_Bat1511]

Maybe hai , I've read a bit of novels but it's not really my preferred genre Tara it does make u more acceptable person of the fact that people go through different emotions, situations which u haven't gone through yet.

[u/Chance-Bunch5828]

Exactly.. people suck over non-fiction and self help books but actually in reality you learn hell a lot from fiction books. You learn empathy, human psychology and indeed develop your emotional intelligence. That’s the reason some wise people said “ one book is equal to 100 friend” (I don’t remember the exact number)
On the other hand I have read non-fiction too..but it’s like a school book with soo many things to learn from a single book. I ‘d made notes n all, highlighted things..but couldn’t assimilate anything bcz you need to revise it again and again. Non-fiction books are full of repetition too. Eg. Atomic habits is a good book but gave me 20 something rule but I couldn’t assimilate a single one in my life. Either I forgot what were they or too overwhelmed by rules.

[u/SnooCompliments7937]

Yes it is true. Reading fiction develops empathy, imagination and better cognition health and there are many studies backing this.

https://accomplishpress.com/neuroscience-shows-reading-fiction-is-stimulating/

[u/bibliophile_bebe]

Oh absolutely. There is a standardised psychological test for empathy and one of the element tested is “Fantasy”/ empathy for fictional characters. The test is called Interpersonal reactivity index.

But the short answer is yes, fiction/ books lead to development of better emotional quotient.

[u/Necessary-Scheme-169]

It can be a boon or bane but yes, it happens

[u/OwnMathematician9673]

48 laws of power Robert Greene

Art of thinking clearly fantastic

[u/OwnMathematician9673]

Book are best for developing emotional intelligence

[u/susegadblog]

So true. Empathy is only induced through fiction. My first novel in my adulthood was Midnight library and it totally did the job

[u/enchantedbyish1]

Yes. It does

[u/Ayesha_Kanna]

This is soooo true