What if the "Real You" didn't actually exist? In this grand finale of our trilogy "The Self is a Fiction," Alice and Marc tackle a dizzying question: is your identity merely a narrative construction constantly manufactured by your brain?

From the gentle madness of Don Quixote to the trap of "Bovarism," discover how our minds superimpose stories onto the real world. But don't worry, this isn't bad news. By exploring the concept of the "Conscious Don Quixote," learn how to pick up the pen and become the co-author of your own life—without losing touch with reality.

If reading can change us for 20 minutes, can it transform us forever?

In this episode, Alice and Marc move from simulation to therapy. Discover the science of Bibliotherapy and why the NHS prescribes novels instead of pills.

We dive into the Proteus Effect: how adopting a mental avatar can physically alter your confidence. Learn why your "Self" is actually a Narrative Identity and how to use the Behavioral Bridge protocol to hardwire your favorite character's traits into your own brain.

You aren't a statue; you are a story in progress.

Have you ever wanted to run a marathon right after finishing a novel... even though you hate sports?

In this first installment of the “The Self is a Fiction” saga, Alice and Marc explore the fascinating phenomenon of Experience Taking. Discover why immersive reading is not mere observation, but a true dissolution of identity.

Unlike simple “Perspective Taking” (conscious empathy), learn how your brain temporarily “turns off” your own personality to viscerally simulate that of the protagonist. From influencing your voting choices to unconsciously reducing prejudice, discover why stepping into a character's shoes changes your biological reality.

Reading isn't just escapism. It's becoming.

Why do some people feel more "at home" in Middle-earth or aboard a starship than in their own neighborhood? Why is a dragon’s fire sometimes less frightening than a simple social conversation?

In this final installment of our trilogy, Alice and Marc explore the vital role of fiction for neurodivergent minds (Autism, ADHD). Discover how stories act as a "social manual" with explicit rules, and why the predictability of a favorite movie watched for the 100th time is a crucial tool for emotional regulation.

We’ll debunk the myth of the "lack of empathy" by looking at hyper-empathy and the Double Empathy Problem. From the honesty of robots to the safety of fantasy worlds, learn how fiction isn't an escape from reality, but a bridge that makes a chaotic world finally readable.

Why does the finale of Friends feel like a real-life breakup? Why do we feel a deep void when characters who don't know we exist disappear from our screens?

In this episode, Alice and Marc decode the mechanics of Parasocial Relationships. Far from the cliché of the lonely geek, discover why your brain is evolutionarily wired to bond with fictional people through concepts like Social Snacking and the Benjamin Franklin Effect.

From the "Gym of Empathy" theory to the Pratfall Effect (why we love clumsy heroes), learn how fiction acts as a safe "social simulator" that can actually upgrade your real-world emotional intelligence.

You know it’s just a movie. You know the characters are just pixels. So why are you sobbing on your couch like you’ve lost a best friend?

In this episode, Alice and Marc decode the Paradox of Fiction. Discover why your "Rational Brain" (Belief) knows it's fake, while your "Primal Brain" (Alief) reacts as if it were life-or-death.

From the "Low Road" of the amygdala to the theory of Make-Believe, learn how storytellers hack your biology to trigger Quasi-Emotions and why crying over a fictional death isn't a weakness—it's the ultimate workout for your empathy.

Is the "Three-Act Structure" universal, or just a Western obsession?

For the grand finale of the trilogy, we travel East to explore the Kishōtenketsu—the narrative structure that powers everything from Totoro to Parasite.

While the Western brain demands Conflict and linear causality (the "Chekhov’s Gun"), the Eastern brain embraces Contrast and harmony. Marc and Alice decode why Westerners often find Asian movies "confusing" or "without an ending," and how learning to accept a story without a villain can actually rewire your brain’s predictive software.

Are you the type of person who reads the last page of a book first?

In this second installment, we investigate the Paradox of Suspense. If the brain loves surprise, why do we rewatch movies we know by heart? Alice and Marc explore how Processing Fluency and Dramatic Irony turn a known story into a comforting "safety belt" for the brain.

We also dive into Neurodiversity: discover why the Intolerance of Uncertainty makes spoilers therapeutic for anxious minds , and how the autistic brain’s hyper-focus on detail can shatter the illusion of a plot twist before it even happens.