The Importance of Empathy

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Seemingly simple hobbies can strengthen our sense of self in ways we might not expect.

Reading obscure old books can deliver a sense of purpose and meaning, which boosts well-being.

Connecting with nearly forgotten literature can be viewed as an act of gratitude and empathy.

For those who can't connect with modern life, old books can convey a rare, much-needed feeling of welcome.

Halfway through a sailor’s memoir, published 114 years ago, I’m realizing that it’s my all-time favorite book.

“If I could sing, I would sing the banana,” he wrote. “I feel intemperate about it. … The plantain jets upwards … and the fountain returns in broad rippled pennants. … A world could not be old on which such a plant grows.”

Reading old books — especially obscure ones, of which perhaps nobody you know has ever heard — is not a waste of time. Turning pages that might not have been previously turned for years and might never be turned again is a privilege, a pilgrimage, a rescue mission and a resurrection.

Studies suggest that quests — at least,........

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