Great Books

I have never believed that reading ANNA KARENINA would make you a better person. I've known too many asshats who've read great literature. My friend Marlene took the opposite view, and at last she has been proved right. In an article in SCIENCE  researchers conducted a series of experiments (having subjects read a short piece of literature, pop fiction or non-fiction and then take a test designed to measure empathy and understanding of others). Those lucky enough to read the lit scored markedly higher in the good things. And there you go. Those like me who read popular fiction did not score well. . . .