Some University of Vermont mathematicians have programmed a computer to analyze more than 1,000 texts on Project Gutenberg, and reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut's story shapes lecture, they found that about 85% of them fit one of six narrative arcs. But Veronique Greenwood warns of some flaws: "The book that fit the Icarus arc best was a collection of 196 yoga sutras. Another odd marriage was the ‘Cinderella’ arc and its top fit: Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy."
November 27, 2016
