Nearly a fifth (18%) of people in the North West have lied to someone about reading a book according to new research by Bookchoice, a new membership service for book lovers which launches in the UK this month.
The research also reveals that nearly a third (32%) of respondents said they had lied about reading a book as they were embarrassed they hadn’t read it, while the same number (32%) said they wanted to fit in. In addition, nearly a quarter (22%) of North Westerners have lied about reading a book as they wanted to impress someone, while 20 per cent fibbed as they wanted to appear more intelligent.
In the eye of the bookholder
The Bookchoice research also reveals that almost half of people in the North West (47%) said they were more likely to find someone attractive if they read books – perhaps indicating why so many lie about it – with the top reasons being:
Having more to talk about (40%)
People who read seem more intelligent (21%)
Reading shows they’re more curious about the world (18%)
It gives them an air of mystery (11%)
It shows they’re a deep person (9%)
Nathan Hull, chief commercial & content officer at Bookchoice, comments: “We’re not surprised that people want to be seen as book readers – a love for the written word is clearly associated with so many attractive qualities. However, we were shocked to see such a high number admitting to lying about it; why risk it? Our research also reveals that three quarters (73%) of Brits wish they spent more time reading, which is why Bookchoice is launching a simple service that makes it easy to read the latest, greatest books, without needing to fib.”
Bookchoice enables readers to receive a curated selection of eight ebooks and audiobooks every month, carefully hand-picked by a team of industry experts. Each selection of books includes award-winners and bestsellers, as well as a mix of new genres and authors, meaning readers have a diverse list to choose from. Members can quickly and easily access their books for just £3.99 each month, by downloading them directly from the Bookchoice site to their smartphone, tablet, ereader or computer, or they can also access their selection via the Bookchoice app.
For readers, Bookchoice removes the hassle and guesswork from finding their next great read. The November selection from Bookchoice, for example, includes best-selling authors such as Lynda La Plante and L.S. Hilton, classics such as Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and new offerings from authors readers are yet to discover, such as 2016’s Costa First Novel Award winner Golden Hill by Francis Spufford. For further details on the service and book selection, please visit the Bookchoice website.