Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 19 hours ago
No, Reading Won't Make You More Empathetic
In this video, I explore the science behind the idea that reading makes people more empathetic, the history of this idea and the evidence for it in the real world, and why people are so determined that reading makes them better people.
Join me as I explain the problems with viewing literature and an empathy gym, how this argument helps conservatives to ban books, and why reading isn't a political action.
✨ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/roisinsreading
📚 Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/roisinsreading
📚 For business inquiries: roisinsreading@gmail.com
#literaryfiction #empathymatters #videoessay
0:00 - Intro
2:10 - the science behind the claim
5:02 - the history behind the idea
7:49 - the empathy gym
11:32 - is reading political?
18:58 - so what if we're exaggerating?
Sources (all bookshop.org links are affiliate links)
Everybody's Protest Novel by James Baldwin uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9780807016947
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamieson
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781847088420
A Sentimental Education by Hannah McGregor
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781771125574
How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781838954956
Dangerous Fictions by Lyta Gould
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781593767709
The scientific paper on the experiments discussed emanuelecastano.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018KiddCastano_SPPS.pdf
@readwithcindy youtube.com/watch?v=YbT4Hjr3LBk&t=75s
@accordingtoalina youtube.com/watch?v=BPRFcSVRAM4&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-
@JessOwens youtube.com/watch?v=uuAvsVf1Bhc&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-&index=6
@shelleys.corner youtube.com/watch?v=7p5od-KV_C8&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-&index=7
youtube.com/watch?v=GgJX--cqWZo&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-&index=7
lochanreads.wordpress.com/2021/05/30/why-do-i-read-diversely-performative-reading-and-virtue-signalling
theguardian.com/books/2021/mar/20/white-people-black-authors-are-not-your-medicine
slate.com/culture/2013/10/does-reading-fiction-make-you-a-more-empathic-better-person.html
nytimes.com/2022/11/22/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-maryanne-wolf.html
No, Reading Won't Make You More Empathetic
In this video, I explore the science behind the idea that reading makes people more empathetic, the history of this idea and the evidence for it in the real world, and why people are so determined that reading makes them better people.
Join me as I explain the problems with viewing literature and an empathy gym, how this argument helps conservatives to ban books, and why reading isn't a political action.
✨ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/roisinsreading
📚 Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/roisinsreading
📚 For business inquiries: roisinsreading@gmail.com
#literaryfiction #empathymatters #videoessay
0:00 - Intro
2:10 - the science behind the claim
5:02 - the history behind the idea
7:49 - the empathy gym
11:32 - is reading political?
18:58 - so what if we're exaggerating?
Sources (all bookshop.org links are affiliate links)
Everybody's Protest Novel by James Baldwin uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9780807016947
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamieson
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781847088420
A Sentimental Education by Hannah McGregor
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781771125574
How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781838954956
Dangerous Fictions by Lyta Gould
uk.bookshop.org/a/6348/9781593767709
The scientific paper on the experiments discussed emanuelecastano.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018KiddCastano_SPPS.pdf
@readwithcindy youtube.com/watch?v=YbT4Hjr3LBk&t=75s
@accordingtoalina youtube.com/watch?v=BPRFcSVRAM4&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-
@JessOwens youtube.com/watch?v=uuAvsVf1Bhc&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-&index=6
@shelleys.corner youtube.com/watch?v=7p5od-KV_C8&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-&index=7
youtube.com/watch?v=GgJX--cqWZo&list=PLWbPry097SqPD3ZnaTr2C0OfH6f8Jgei-&index=7
lochanreads.wordpress.com/2021/05/30/why-do-i-read-diversely-performative-reading-and-virtue-signalling
theguardian.com/books/2021/mar/20/white-people-black-authors-are-not-your-medicine
slate.com/culture/2013/10/does-reading-fiction-make-you-a-more-empathic-better-person.html
nytimes.com/2022/11/22/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-maryanne-wolf.html
