Empathy. There’s that word again. It’s an elusive skill, one that’s neither innate nor learned. Still, it’s touted as an essential trait for any user experience professional. So how does one become more empathetic? Read fiction!
Last year, I read an article on research that linked fiction with a person’s ability to empathize. (See The Guardian’s “Literary fiction readers understand others’ emotions better, study finds”) The study stuck with me. It made me feel better about my tendency to read fiction instead of professional UX books. Since then, I’ve realized that fiction can help user experience designers in more ways than one. For me, reading fiction has improved my communication skills, built my vocabulary, helped me destress, and strengthened my empathy muscles. Here’s a list of some of my favorite books and their corresponding user experience design themes.
Fostering Empathy
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Reading this book is a true test of emotional strength. Every page forces the reader to empathize with the struggle of brooding friends as they face the realities of growing older. It’s also proof that every person comes from a different starting place. We bring completely different perspectives to the situations we face. Think all your users are the same? Think again.
