The Empathy Machine
Walk a mile in somebody else's shoes without going anywhere
This post is a call for the reading of biographies.
Science magazine carried an article in 2013 that researched the effect of literary fiction on the mind (you can read it here). The abstract for the article states that, “Theory of Mind is the human capacity to comprehend that other people hold beliefs and desires and that these may differ from one's own beliefs and desires.” That is a fancy way of saying empathy.
Empathy is foundational to much of social interaction. Particularly in complex leadership situations, empathy is a valuable skill. Guess what? Kidd’s study indicates that reading literary fiction increases Theory of Mind skills. It should be obvious to us. When you read fiction, you enter the thought life of the various characters. In doing so, you practice empathy. Even better than fiction, I have found, is the regular reading of biographies.
“Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes,” is an old phrase found in many cultures. Empathy is a prerequisite for wisdom. Reading biographies (and autobiographies) unlocks the empathy machine. It helps you to see how people think and react to the ideas and challenges around them. It lets you walk in somebody else’s shoes.
I recently read the biography of Whittaker Chambers. Chambers’ life influenced the world in which we all now live. A communist and Soviet spy, he left communism, in large part because of Stalin’s purges, and his religious leanings. His aversion to communism coincided with a spiritual renewal. He became a writer for Time magazine, a witness in the Alger Hiss trial, a writer for the conservative National Review and was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan posthumously. That is an interesting life! Think about the things one can learn in this story. There is plenty of background history on the rise of communism and its effect on American culture. It is a story of a man’s spiritual pilgrimage. There is irony (from communist to Reagan-era hero) and there is plenty of intrigue. To this day there are open questions about Chambers and what his real beliefs, actions and motivations were. He remains controversial, but undeniably interesting.
A biography can straddle genres of non-fiction, storytelling and history. Giles Milton’s book, White Gold: The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and Islam's One Million White Slaves, (Milton, 2005) is a riveting story while simultaneously giving the reader incredible insight into the North African slave trade (I won’t give out the ending, but the historical twist revealed in the end of the book is almost too hard to believe).
A life is multifaceted. Reading biographies helps us to see the enormous value that each person has. It forces us to see the world through their eyes, living at their time, and experiencing what they have experienced.
Autobiographies are also helpful, but in a different way. Often more introspective than a biography they present a singular perspective. One fun thing to do is read a biography and autobiography about the same person either in tandem or by reading one directly after the other. You will be surprised at the differences, and it will also make you consider how you would write about your life.
As a rule, I always like to have one biographical book in my e-reader. For a few people, I have read multiple biographies (Jonathan Edwards, for example, has multiple biographies written about his life and I have read several of them). Look for people who have made a mark on the world in the arena of business, technology, politics, and religion. Think about world changing events and the people who engaged in them. Missionary biographies are among the most fascinating. These are great sources of ideas for biographies because you will not only learn about the person but also about the historical events that happened in their lifetime.
How many of us would say that great character is built around a life of comfort and safety? Nobody! Great character come from facing great adversity. There is a little life hack here: by reading biographies you can “borrow” somebody else’s adversity and learn from it!