How much correlation is there between claims that reading a book “makes you a better person” and reality?
Some really do achieve this effect! But at least for me it’s usually not the ones which are “supposed to”.
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I don’t think there is a universal book - more about presenting the right information/lesson in the right way at the right time.
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I thought there was and it started 3.14
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I feel like anything I could empirically say would be subject to hindsight or confirmation bias but, with that said, I feel like reading as a constant habit has a bigger effect than certain books being “the key”
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I also think that lots of people wilfully ignore that reading has diminishing returns at some point, especially when you don't change topics.
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it also depends a lot on your values
"better person" might mean "ignore your feelings to make more money" to one person and the exact opposite to someone else
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Perhaps "books make your a better person" is more accurate as a statistical statement. You have to try many that don't really affect you to stumble on the ones that do.
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I guess I think of the truth being closer to "exposing yourself to new ideas and new ways of thinking builds empathy and creativity, which we like." Books are an easy, fairly high-information way to expose yourself to new ideas / characters.
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Pretty good case for reading fiction from a few years ago
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