Have You Ever Pretended To Have Read a Book You Didn't Actually Read?
SodaHead Living
2012/05/14 00:30:20
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If you’re a “book bluffer,” you’re in good company. According to the New York Times and a British website called Female First, fibbing about the books you’ve read is far more common than you might think. Research from the Lindeman’s Wine & Book Club revealed that 71% of Brits lie to friends and family, claiming to have read books they actually haven’t.
The most common reason cited for engaging in the practice is fear of being perceived as stupid. The study found that more men engage in book bluffing than women—mostly when trying to impress prospective partners. However, women are more likely to lie to friends or colleagues than their male counterparts.
So what books do the Brits most frequently pretend to have read?
The top five are “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien, “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte, “Tess of the D’Ubervilles” by Thomas Hardy, and “The Hobbit” by J. R. R. Tolkien.
(Hmm . . . most of those books have been turned into movies. Is that the key to successful book bluffing?)
The most common reason cited for engaging in the practice is fear of being perceived as stupid. The study found that more men engage in book bluffing than women—mostly when trying to impress prospective partners. However, women are more likely to lie to friends or colleagues than their male counterparts.
So what books do the Brits most frequently pretend to have read?
The top five are “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien, “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte, “Tess of the D’Ubervilles” by Thomas Hardy, and “The Hobbit” by J. R. R. Tolkien.
(Hmm . . . most of those books have been turned into movies. Is that the key to successful book bluffing?)
We don’t have any stats on book bluffing in America. However, the New York Times did come forward with a list of books their staff members have been less than truthful about having read.
They include: “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace, “The Corrections” by Jonathan Franzen, “1984” by George Orwell, “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and--ironically--“How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read” by Pierre Bayard.
So what about you SodaHeads? Have you ever pretended to have read a book you didn't actually read?
Read More: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/books/Pride++Prejudic...
Top Opinion
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Bibliophilic 2012/05/14 06:18:47No
+6Technically no. I was instructed to read a book for class, but I stopped halfway because I loathed it. I just smiled and nodded if someone talked to me about it.
I do read, but I often do it at a pace so I can enjoy the book without rushing myself.
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