We here at milk* love reading our zombie, vampire and shades-of-whatever trilogies, but after finding this piece in the digital pub, Quartz, we’ve rotated in some Faulkner and Angelou. According to a recent study by the New School in New York City, people who read literary fiction are better able to navigate complex social relationships, identify and understand others’ subjective states and form empathic responses to them. The results could help us better understand the impact of literature, and the arts in general, and improve education, criminal rehabilitation and reaching those with autism. Looking to be a more empathetic person? Look no further than Steinbeck.