Intellect is shaped by a wide range of experiences, personal interests, and aspirations, not just academics. Gerald Graff's "Hidden Intellectualism" and Jonathan Gottschall's "Why Fiction is Good for You" suggest that intelligence can develop in unexpected ways. Graff shows how ordinary activities, such as athletics, can foster critical thinking, while Gottschall explains how reading fiction increases empathy. Both authors argue that exploring one's hobbies and engaging with fictional stories can significantly improve cognitive and emotional capacities. Thus, intellect can be cultivated through everyday interests and immersive fiction, enhancing both cognitive and empathetic abilities.
Intellect can be built through the interests of everyday people. Gaff talks greatly about the idea of “street smarts” in “Hidden Intellectualism.” For example, Gaff states "It was in reading and arguing about sports and toughness that I experienced what it felt like to propose a generalization, restate and respond to a counterargument"(860). This aligns well with the idea of hobbies and interests contributing to the building of intellect, Gaff managed to build a foundation of critical thinking and analytical …show more content…
For example, Gottschall claims “Heavy fiction readers outperformed heavy nonfiction readers on tests of empathy” (Gottschall 1661). This shows that fiction does more than just entertain, it trains the reader's mind to understand and empathize with diverse perspectives. This skill is very important for basic reasoning and intellectual development. Furthermore, Gottschall emphasizes that fiction promotes a sense of emotional resonance with characters and situations, causing readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values in a way that nonfiction literature usually