What's Your First Written Example?

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Hetawana, a poet priestess who lived five thousand years ago in what is now southern arec. She's the first person to claim to be an inventor of literature. Her innovation stimulates a self transcendent experience in our brains,. measurably increasing our life purpose and generosity. When you start creating these big people, it stretches the mind, and it creates this sense of wonder and awe.

Michael speaks with neuroscientist and literature professor Dr. Angus Fletcher about 25 of the most powerful developments in the history of literature, from ancient Mesopotamia to Elena Ferrante. Fletcher says these literary technologies can alleviate grief, trauma, loneliness, anxiety, numbness, depression, pessimism, and ennui — all while sparking creativity, courage, love, empathy, hope, joy, and positive change. Fletcher is a professor of story science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative, the world’s leading academic think-tank for the study of stories. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.