Earlier this term, Sophie Gee, co-host of the podcast ‘Secret Life of Books’, delivered a presentation on the psychological benefits of engaging with literature.
The session with staff prefaced ‘KnoxReads’, a school initiative designed to cultivate a vibrant fictional reading culture amongst our students. Reading fiction is a highly beneficial activity, as it increases vocabulary, openness to complexity, strength in navigating uncertainty, and ability to empathise with a diverse range of perspectives.
Before Sophie spoke, Headmaster Scott James said, “For those who have not listened to ‘Secret Life of Books’, I strongly encourage you to do so. Sophie and her co-host Jonty Claypole's wit, enthusiasm, intelligence, and knowledge encourages you to read the classics with new eyes.”
Sophie’s presentation was spirited and illuminating. She acknowledged that reading can challenge by presenting things that may be outside of one’s comfort zone or address topics that are hard to discuss. When she started her podcast, she dove deep into reading at the pace of more than a book a week!
“It's about trusting the process, having a simultaneously lighter and more committed relationship to being present with a page,” Sophie said. “One of the reasons we most need to keep practising reading, is that it plunges us into an awareness of our own uncertainty and our own not-knowing.
“This condition of uncertainty or unknowing is, in itself, incredibly good for neuroplasticity. This study showed that people who read more fiction, were more likely to have more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of human motivation in complex scenarios involving ambiguous and hard-to-interpret behaviour in the social world. People developed a much more sophisticated moral compass when they are reading complex works of fiction.”
Sophie holds a doctorate in English from Harvard University, is an English professor at Princeton University and the Inaugural Vice Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Sydney.
21 September 2026
"When I think about my own time at Knox, I realise just how many different parts of this school have shaped me,” our 2026 School Captain Mani said, as he gave his final speech at the Valedictory Ceremony. “I came here as a Year 7 boy, I had absolutely no idea what the next six years would look like. I picked up a saxophone. I played football. I took up Cadets. I got involved in Social Justice and Service.
18 September 2026
Yesterday, the stands at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre were a sea of Black and Blue as students, parents, coaches, staff and supporters came together to cheer on our CAS Track and Field team, with the Tartan Army leading the charge.
15 September 2026
In 2025, Knox Grammar and Wahroonga Prep joined the Independent Schools NSW 'Respectful Relationships: Proactive Education' initiative. The program is designed to strengthen a whole-school approach to respectful relationships, helping young people develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to build healthy and respectful interactions throughout their lives.
