Have you ever wondered if magic exists?

I am very sorry to spoil it for you, but it does.

Undoubtedly, magic exists in the shape of books.

Stop making that face, books are magic indeed.

Books have the power to make you travel the world while sitting in the same place for hours.

Books are capable of teaching any individual about literally anything: art history, philosophy, astronomy, philanthropy… you name it.

Books can empower children to be creative.

Books can motivate young adults to reach for the stars.

Books can help adults remember what life is truly about.

To be honest, books are capable of incredible things.

However, there is one sole reason why I truly fell in love with books.

Books make you an exceedingly kind, compassionate and empathetic person.

You don’t have to experience first-hand the loss of someone you love, the atrocious consequences of being caught in the middle of a war or the heartbreaking effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family.

You don’t have to experience these situations to feel and understand what they are like.

Everyone who has cried holding a book to their chest knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Books offer you the chance to put yourself in other people’s shoes and walk down their paths for a while.

And that, my friend, is the definition of empathy.

Today, I wanted to share lines from some books that have forever touched my heart and made me a much more empathetic person by doing so.

1. The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer

"In the past 20 years alone, it adds up to more deaths than were caused by all the civil and international wars and government repression of the entire twentieth century, the century of Hitler and Stalin. How much would we give to prevent those horrors? Yet how little are we doing to prevent today's even larger toll and all the misery that it involves? I believe that if you read this book to the end, and look honestly and carefully at our situation, assessing both the facts and the ethical arguments, you will agree that we must act." -Peter Singer

2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

"I know. I know. But he's always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he's lost in some dream." "And?" "I wasn't like that." Baba sounded frustrated, almost angry. Rahim Khan laughed. "Children aren't colouring books. You don't get to fill them with your favourite colours." -Khaled Hosseini

3. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

"It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse. That bungled goodbye hurts me to this day." -Yann Martel

4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

"If every single person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary – the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God." -R.J. Palacio

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." -Harper Lee

6. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them,” [Jeannette's mom] said. “You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.” “Oh yeah?” I said. “How about Hitler? What was his redeeming quality?” “Hitler loved dogs,” Mom said without hesitation.” -Jeannette Walls