I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rolled my eyes when people share “What I’m Reading” on their blogs. And this story from BBC News explains why.
Nearly half of all men and one-third of women have lied about what they have read to try to impress friends or potential partners, a survey suggests.
Men were most likely to do this to appear intellectual or romantic, found the poll of 1,500 people by Populus for the National Year of Reading campaign.
The men polled said they would be most impressed by women who read news websites, Shakespeare or song lyrics.
Women said men should have read Nelson Mandela’s biography or Shakespeare.
Among the 1,500 who took part in the research were 864 teenagers.
About four in 10 of the 1,500 said they had lied about what they had read to impress friends or potential partners – 46% of men and 33% of women.
Among teenagers, the figure rose to 74%, with most saying they would pretend to have read social networking pages or song lyrics.
One in five adults said they would read their chosen material whilst waiting for their date to arrive in the hope of making a good first impression.
Honor Wilson-Fletcher, director of the National Year of Reading campaign, said: “Reading is a brilliant tool for self-expression.
“I love the fact that every generation seems to know that it can help us all increase our potential appeal in the search for love and romance.
“For all the talk of our superficial obsession with beauty, it looks like underneath it all we know that brains contribute to sex appeal too.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/education/7776046.stm
Published: 2008/12/11 02:47:26 GMT
ha! people are crazy…
so leonard nimoy’s son’s bio that i last read won’t impress you? 😉
It totally impresses me. =)
And me….
I have vowed to never let you and Allen be in the same room as Tom. The TrekGeek Explosion would be too mighty.
I’ve never wanted you more…
;p
Reading IS hot. I always tell Rhonda that when she’s lounging around in her lounging around clothes, wearing her glasses and reading a book, that it’s the sexiest thing ever. Hmm… I should photograph that…
I know JUST the book you can show her reading!
I’ve totally had guys try to do that with me, then when I ask them about a specific author they have read they are like, um… uh… um. the first guy I wnet out with when i move dback to BG, in fact. I want to say “You dumbass, you know I work at a bookstore; why would you try to fool me?”
We’re all a little crazy when we’re looking for love. =)
I think I’m semi-guilty. I never say on my blog that I’m reading a book that I’m not really reading. But that part about wanting to make a good impression? The bookcase by my front door? All my “oh-aren’t-you-well-read” books are there. The Dickens I’ve never opened. The Shakespeare I’ve never comprehended. True there are books out there that I have read (She’s Come Undone, Bastard Out of Carolina, etc.) and the ones I haven’t read are on my 165 title list of books to read at some point. Meanwhile, my Star Wars books hide in my room. Am I a sham?
Am I a sham?
Nah, I’d say you’re human. Nothing wrong with that.