Expand Your Mind & Learn the Benefits of Reading Literary Fiction
Wondering what the benefits of reading Literary Fiction are? Recent research is proving that there are many. We’re going to break down the top reasons to read this popular genre and will also be providing a list of seven popular books that can expand your mind.
Benefits of Reading Literary Fiction
According to research cited in this Harvard Business Review article, “reading literary fiction helps people develop empathy, theory of mind, and critical thinking.” If you’re already a fan of the Lit Fic genre, this is a great sign to keep reading! If you’re new to the genre, we’ve provided a list of the top books you can get started with.
Mind-Expanding Literary Fiction Books
1. Lord of the Flies
by William Golding
When a plane crashes on an isolated island, a group of schoolboys finds themselves completely stranded. No adult supervision means that the boys initially celebrate. Far from their normal lives, they can do anything they want. But as chaos rises amongst the group and strange creatures howl in the night, terror descends.
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2. We Are Not Like Them
by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Split into differing perspectives, this book recounts the lifelong friendship of two women – one Black and one white. Their bond is permanently changed by a tragic event in this “propulsive, deeply felt tale of race and friendship.” —People.
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3. White Teeth
by Zadie Smith
This witty and engaging novel tells the story of Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal, two veterans of World War II who were irrevocably transformed by England. The center of the novel is Clara Bowden, a beautiful woman, but one with tooth challenges.
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4. The Man Who Lived Underground
by Richard Wright
This scorching novel tells the story of Fred Daniels, a Black man picked up by police after a brutal double sleighing. He’s held and forced to confess to a crime he didn’t commit. Shortly after signing his confession, Fred escapes from custody and flees into the sewer system.
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5. The Five Wounds
by Kirstin Valdez Quade
The small town of Las Penas, New Mexico, is preparing for Holy Week when Amadeo Padilla is given the part of Jesus in the Good Friday procession. He’s preparing feverishly for this role when his fifteen-year-old daughter Angel shows up pregnant on his doorstep and disrupts his plans for personal redemption.
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6. What’s Mine and Yours
by Naima Coster
Just twenty years ago, Gee and Noelle experienced the first wave of forced integration in their high school. This book follows the two students as they grow up, fall in love, have children, and navigate their family’s destinies.
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7. The Tattooist of Auschwitz
by Heather Morris
This hopeful and courageous tale is based on interviews with Holocaust survivor Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov – who was also a tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells an unforgettable story of love amidst atrocity.
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