When people finish reading a powerful book, it is not uncommon for them to tell their friends that this particular text changed their life. However, in some cases, one book may lead to personality changes as well.

Keith Oatley, professor emeritus in the department of human development and applied psychology at the University of Toronto, put this theory to the test in a recent study, the National Post reported. Over the course of this research, participants were asked to read The Lady with the Little Dog, by Anton Chekhov, or a non-fiction rewrite of the story.

Before and after reading either story, each participant was asked to complete a personality test, according to the news source. Oatley found that those who read Chekov's version of the story experienced a small change in their personalities. Furthermore, each of these individuals changed in different ways.

"The effects can be moderate, even if they are real," Oatley said, as quoted by the news outlet. "What you're reading definitely matters."

In a separate study from the University at Buffalo, researchers found that reading fiction improves empathy, The Guardian reported. Individuals who are curious to see what effect their reading habits have on their behavior and thought processes may want to take a personality test.