One of the most appalling statements I have heard — and there have been lots of appalling remarks of late — is Elon Musk saying, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.”
Whatever happened to “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Merriam-Webster’s definition of empathy reads: “The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and voraciously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another.”
Let me say I stand firmly on the side of empathy. We live in a world — I think — where we could use a whole lot more of it, individually and collectively.
Since I write fiction, I am delighted that research has shown that one of the most powerful ways to learn, gain, and practice empathy is by reading fiction. Fiction introduces us to a multitude of others and allows us to engage in new feelings, thoughts, and the experience of those others.
But as the NY Times has recently reported:
“Over the past two decades, there has been a steady decline in Americans who read for fun, according to a study published on Wednesday.”
Researchers from University College London and the University of Florida examined national data from 2003 to 2023 and found that the share of people who reported reading for pleasure on a given day fell to 16 percent in 2023 from a peak of 28 percent in 2004 — a drop of about 40 percent. It declined around 3 percent each year over those two decades.”
I’m willing to argue that the radical decline in reading among the population is one cause of the general fall in empathy.
That said, it’s one of the reasons I’m excited by Breakfast Serials new accessibility on a digital platform: Substack.
These original stories — unfolding in a serial format and created by 35 award-winning authors and illustrators are published every Tuesday (with simultaneous Spanish translations) and bring outstanding stories and art to as many people as possible, young and old.
The mission of Breakfast Serials is simple: to bring well-written serial stories and fine art to as many people as possible — families, schools, and entire communities. Released episode by episode, they create moments for sharing and conversation, ideal for reading together and discussing what might happen next.
Each chapter is short and engaging, with a narrative structure that quickly captures the reader, while fostering continual reading. They are best enjoyed when engaged by parent-child and intergenerational readers. In this age of the internet, one can access as wide a geographic world as one chooses to make. Thus, the East Coast child and the West Coast grandparent can enjoy a story in a simultaneous moment — and any number can join in. A wonderful way to encourage reading.
So let’s hear it for reading and empathy!
And Breakfast Serials!
Link to subscribe: breakfastserialsinc.substack.com