How to Do Things with Fictions

(Oxford University Press) In this exploration of the function of fiction, Landy challenges the idea that texts should be informative or morally improving to be of benefit to readers. Fiction can give us skills or help us become who we are; authors can be thought of not just as entertainers but also as personal trainers of the brain. Landy is an associate professor of French at Stanford University, where he co-founded and co-directs its Initiative in Philosophy and Literature.