Lihi Lapid and the Case for Slower, More Human Writing
By Lihi Maine
In today’s society, headlines come and go within seconds. News alerts flash across screens constantly, only to be replaced with new information shortly after. Because of this, readers are encouraged to skim rather than truly reflect on the information presented before them, creating an environment where the deeper meaning behind stories is often lost in the blur. As a result, much of modern journalism risks becoming temporary—designed more to capture clicks than to create lasting understanding. However, what makes storytelling so valuable is when it connects to humanity on a deeper level and remains with readers long after the moment has passed. Few people understand this better than Lihi Lapid, an Israeli journalist and author whose work focuses on human emotion, empathy, and connection.
Lihi Lapid is known for her award-winning novels centered around contemporary women’s issues, motherhood, and the pressures of modern life. She is also recognized as the wife of Yair Lapid, a former Israeli Prime Minister and current leader of the opposition in the Israeli Knesset.
In a recent interview, Mrs. Lapid shared many insights about her career, her perspective on writing, and the lessons she has learned along the way. She has written several books, some of which explore real human experiences and often highlight voices that are overlooked.
One of the most striking moments in the interview came when she reflected on what writing has taught her. She said, “the biggest lesson I have learned from writing was how powerful it was to enter the hearts of so many people.” This statement captures the essence of her work.
For Lihi Lapid, there is a responsibility she feels on a day-to-day basis: to bring awareness and empathy to matters involving real-life challenges. Whether it is a company leader making difficult choices or employees adapting to change, understanding people and feeling empathy for them is essential. Lapid suggests that empathy and success are closely linked.
Building empathy and understanding for one another is an arduous task. Writing, according to Lapid, is not always easy. It requires persistence, self-reflection, and the willingness to face criticism. She explained that growth comes from continuously improving and staying committed to one’s purpose. This lesson applies directly to the business world, where setbacks and challenges are inevitable. Success often depends on the ability to adapt, learn, and keep moving forward.
Empathy, as Lapid describes it, is not simply a feeling, but a skill that must be actively developed. Though it can be a demanding journey, the world needs more of it. It requires stepping outside one’s own perspective and making a genuine effort to understand the experiences of others. In her writing, this means entering the lives of the people she writes about, rather than observing them from a distance.
In many ways, this idea challenges the fast-moving nature of today’s world. When everything is designed to be consumed quickly, Lapid’s writing does the opposite. Her work encourages readers to step back and come to terms with the complexity of lived experience. It asks readers to pause, think, and consider what someone else may be going through. Her writing serves as a reminder that without that pause, important human experiences risk being overlooked or misunderstood.
This concept is especially relevant in the world of business and finance, where decisions are often made based on efficiency and results. However, Lapid’s perspective suggests that without empathy, those decisions may lack depth and awareness. Understanding how choices impact real people can lead to more thoughtful and responsible outcomes. In this way, empathy becomes not just a personal value, but a professional strength.
Throughout the interview, it became clear that empathy is at the core of everything Lapid creates. Her writing is not meant only to inform, but to make readers feel and connect. By entering the hearts of others, as she described, she builds a bridge between different experiences and perspectives. This ability to connect is what gives her work its lasting impact.
At the same time, developing empathy is not always easy. Lapid acknowledged that truly understanding others can be challenging, but emphasized that it is necessary. Without that effort, writing—and communication as a whole—loses much of its meaning.
Reflecting on this, it is clear that empathy is what transforms words into something powerful. It is what allows stories to stay with readers long after they are read. Lapid’s insights highlight that in both journalism and business, the ability to understand and connect with people is essential. But this brings up a deeper question: why do people lack empathy?
One possible answer stems from the feeling of being “threatened.” In many cases, we feel threatened based on our own fears, projections, and past experiences—not by what is actually happening in the moment or in a particular relationship or situation. Whether the threat is real or imagined, it often reduces our ability to experience empathy. Being judgmental is another contributing factor. When we are judgmental, we assume we are right and someone else is wrong. This diminishes empathy and disconnects us from others. But at the root of this is fear—our own fear. While fear is a natural human emotion with important survival functions, it can also prevent us from accessing empathy when it is not acknowledged and processed.
Mrs. Lapid’s I Wanted to Be Wonderful, her novel about motherhood, marriage, career, and parenting a child with special needs, underscores the importance of placing oneself in the position of others before making assumptions about their lives—a skill that lasts a lifetime.
