Why do we read fictional literature

This book is considered an easy introduction to the field of cognitive literary studies, where Zanshein "approaches directly," lightening many of the theoretical issues, verbal disputes, and terminological conflicts that have become characteristic of these research fields. The author clarified that her primary intention with the book is for students and non-specialist readers, so she used simple language close to understanding, as if she is conversing and discussing with the reader, with a humble tone that does not assert on issues still under ongoing research. Rather, we find that Zanshein often encourages the reader to test her arguments themselves rather than accept them as given, aware of the nature of the field she is writing in, where it is not appropriate to assert and decide without careful consideration. The question posed by the book in its title: "Why do we read fiction?" is one of those initial questions that may not occur to the ordinary person or that it is believed the answer is available, trivial, and does not require effort to grasp. We all read fiction: from novels and short stories, and many of us are addicted to reading them, but few have asked themselves this question, and few among those have realized that answering this question may require acquiring extensive knowledge and returning to various academic fields. And this is what the author does in this book.