Can reading a great book be therapeutic? Every English teacher I know would say yes. Some of us, in fact, prescribe books to our friends who might want help in delicate situations. What’s new here is the idea that neuroscientists – like Fletcher – can identify scientific explanations for why a literary technique works. For example, he shows how William James’ psychological theories help us understand why Virginia Woolf’s “stream of consciousness” technique is effective. Science and art collide in this book in a way I’ve never seen before. Fletcher adds a layer of scientific principles to our understanding of literary techniques.
Fletcher, Angus. Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature. Simon & Schuster, 2021, p. 27.