Can Literature Change your Life? An Introduction to Transformative Reading

We say that literature can change your life. But is this statement supported by scientific evidence? How has this been researched? In this lecture, Dr. Olivia Fialho will present recent work on how reading literature changes the perception of ourselves and the perception of others in a process called "transformative reading". She will discuss empirical research on the effects of reading on our emotional and cognitive capacities and explain how readers are guided in their insights into fictional and real selves.

Olivia Fialho is Senior Researcher in Empirical and Computational Literary Studies at the Huygens Institute / KNAW (Dutch Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences) and Assistant Professor in Comparative Literature at Utrecht University. Her research focuses on the impact of fiction reading on personal and social transformation. Her publications include Scientific Approaches to Literature in Learning Environments (2016) and Transformative Reading (2024), an evidence-based educational program that enhances readers’ cognitive and emotional capacities, such as reflection on self and others, empathy, moral understanding, and motivation to read literature, among other benefits. The program has helped acquire over 3.5 million euros in research funds, including, most recently, the ERC Advanced Grant “MORE: Moral residue –  epistemological ramifications, ethical implications, and didactic opportunities” (2022-2027). Transformative Reading innovates as a program of literature teaching in Education, Business and Medical Ethics.

All are welcome!