Reading fiction may sharpen two specific abilities—tracking other minds and tolerating ambiguity—more effectively than nonfiction aimed at explicit self-improvement, a psychologist argues.
Keith Oatley’s “flight simulator” idea underpins the first claim: novels force readers to hold multiple perspectives at once, exercising theory of mind over hours rather than delivering tidy frameworks.
A 2026 Scientific Reports study linked high need for cognitive closure to avoiding dissimilar views under uncertainty, while fiction works in the opposite direction by keeping readers engaged without quick resolution.
The evidence is narrower than broad “mental boost” claims: a 2024 Journal of Experimental Psychology: General meta-analysis found real but modest effects, mainly on empathy and perspective-taking.
Immersion appears crucial—research reviewed in 2024 suggests fiction’s benefits depend on transportation, meaning reading for enjoyment rather than mining novels for immediately useful takeaways.