America is facing a reading crisis, and this has profound impacts on how we engage with the world. The number of adults who read books for pleasure fell by more than 30% in less than 15 years. Researchers found that Americans watch TV three hours a day, but spend less than 30 minutes reading.

"Reading is seeing the world through someone else's eyes," says our guest, Joseph Luzzi, Professor of Comparative Literature at Bard College. "I think of social media as a mirror. You look into it and your tastes and interests are reflected back on you. Literature is a prism. You look into it and you are engaged."

Recent neuroscience research suggests fiction literature helps people develop empathy and critical thinking. The decline in reading and the popularity of social media may have profound impacts on democracy, feeding into our deep partisan division, and reinforcing extreme opinions.

In this episode, we also discuss how reading Dante helped save Joseph after he became a widower and a father on the same day. We also learn about his 4-for-45 prescription for how reading literature can bring pleasure enlightenment to our daily lives.

Learn more about Joseph Luzzi's monthly book group, books and public lectures here.

Recommendations: In this episode, Jim and Richard reveal the books that had a profound impact on them.