Brits Lie About The Books They Read!

Timoleon · 03-05-2009, 11:20 PM

According to Reuters:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090305/...oks_lies_odd_3

"Two out of three Britons have lied about reading books they have not, and George Orwell's "1984" tops the literary fib list, according to a survey published Thursday.

Commissioned by organizers of World Book Day, an annual celebration of reading in Britain, the study also shows that the author people really enjoy reading is J.K. Rowling, creator of the bestselling Harry Potter wizard series.

According to the survey, 65 percent of people have pretended to have read books, and of those, 42 percent singled out "1984." Next on the list came "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy and in third place was James Joyce's "Ulysses."

The Bible was in fourth position, and newly elected President Barack Obama's autobiography "Dreams from My Father" came ninth."

Can some of our British subjects comment on this? My guess is that most of the fibbing happens in English pubs, where the guys are trying to impress the gals in order to bed them.

I know from my own past --- say, joining book reading clubs and the like, one motivating factor was the desire and opportunity to meet smart, sensitive, and yes, good-looking women...

Sparrow · 03-06-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

Can some of our British subjects comment on this? My guess is that most of the fibbing happens in English pubs, where the guys are trying to impress the gals in order to bed them.

I'm startled by this story - I don't think I know anyone who'd lie about reading a book they hadn't.

Currently we're experiencing the 'cult of the dumb' in the UK - ignorance is cool, and knowledge is intimidating.

I could understand my fellow Brits pretending they can't read, but claiming to have read books they haven't surprises me.

Moejoe · 03-06-2009, 03:09 AM

I can't imagine why anyone would lie about reading 1984. For one, it's a cracking read, and second it's not a long or overly-complicated novel. Now I could see someone lying about Ulysees, which is unreadable as far as I'm concerned. I suppose those lying about it have some ulterior motive, I can't imagine what though.

I would lie about some books though, for instance if someone asks me have I read The Davinci Code, I could happily say 'yes' (I didn't, not all the way through in any case) just to avoid the tedious argument about how awful I thought it was and how I'd rather have dental surgery than read anything else he's written.

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 03:21 AM

Doesn't surprise me at all that people would lie about this. I've always been wary of these polls that put books like "War and Peace" at the top of peoples' "favourite books" list. I wonder how many people have read it? I haven't.

Have to agree about 1984, though. Damn good book. Why lie about it? Just read it!

Sparrow · 03-06-2009, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Doesn't surprise me at all that people would lie about this. I've always been wary of these polls that put books like "War and Peace" at the top of peoples' "favourite books" list. I wonder how many people have read it? I haven't.

Have to agree about 1984, though. Damn good book. Why lie about it? Just read it!

I've read 'War and Peace' - a Penguin edition, I forget the translator - but it was a cracking read!!
It's long, but doesn't deserve the 'difficult' tag it often gets imho.

GeoffC · 03-06-2009, 06:55 AM

Seems like a :tongueincheek: survey just to get some funding....No one asked me....

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I've read 'War and Peace' - a Penguin edition, I forget the translator - but it was a cracking read!!
It's long, but doesn't deserve the 'difficult' tag it often gets imho.

It's on my "reading list" - just haven't got around to it yet. Heck, I've even created an eBook version of it!

Wetdogeared · 03-06-2009, 11:21 AM

If my memory serves me right, 1984 was a book on my high school English curriculum. We all had to read it, or were supposed to read it!

WDE.

lilac_jive · 03-06-2009, 11:28 AM

I haven't read 1984 yet, but it's on my Reader.

GeoffC · 03-06-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I haven't read 1984 yet, but it's on my Reader.

plus those others in your sig line that haven't changed this month.....

lilac_jive · 03-06-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

plus those others in your sig line that haven't changed this month.....

I just added Alice in Wonderland, sheesh. I'm working on Emma right now.

You guys are like slave drivers! Argghh!

DixieGal · 03-06-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I haven't read 1984 yet, but it's on my Reader.

It's nestled in for a long stay with Rebecca and Kidnapped.

Falbe Publishing · 03-06-2009, 01:38 PM

Women love liars. That's an excellent way to pick up gals.

At least the British are apparently well informed enough about books to lie about reading them. The average American "Joe 12-pack" wouldn't be familiar enough with the books' titles to lie about them. (Just being hard on my country.

)

Thanks for the comment about War and Peace being a good read. I've often considered it and now that I have an ebook reader I don't have to be intimidated about its size.

GeoffC · 03-06-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

Women love liars. That's an excellent way to pick up gals.

I hope you are kidding !!!

pilotbob · 03-06-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

Women love liars. That's an excellent way to pick up gals.

If women liked guys that are well read, I should have been swarming with them. But, not so much. I did get a few looks when I had my Datsun 260Z!

BOb

03-05-2009, 11:20 PM	#1
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	Brits Lie About The Books They Read! According to Reuters: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090305/...oks_lies_odd_3 "Two out of three Britons have lied about reading books they have not, and George Orwell's "1984" tops the literary fib list, according to a survey published Thursday. Commissioned by organizers of World Book Day, an annual celebration of reading in Britain, the study also shows that the author people really enjoy reading is J.K. Rowling, creator of the bestselling Harry Potter wizard series. According to the survey, 65 percent of people have pretended to have read books, and of those, 42 percent singled out "1984." Next on the list came "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy and in third place was James Joyce's "Ulysses." The Bible was in fourth position, and newly elected President Barack Obama's autobiography "Dreams from My Father" came ninth." Can some of our British subjects comment on this? My guess is that most of the fibbing happens in English pubs, where the guys are trying to impress the gals in order to bed them. I know from my own past --- say, joining book reading clubs and the like, one motivating factor was the desire and opportunity to meet smart, sensitive, and yes, good-looking women...

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03-06-2009, 03:09 AM	#3
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I can't imagine why anyone would lie about reading 1984. For one, it's a cracking read, and second it's not a long or overly-complicated novel. Now I could see someone lying about Ulysees, which is unreadable as far as I'm concerned. I suppose those lying about it have some ulterior motive, I can't imagine what though. I would lie about some books though, for instance if someone asks me have I read The Davinci Code, I could happily say 'yes' (I didn't, not all the way through in any case) just to avoid the tedious argument about how awful I thought it was and how I'd rather have dental surgery than read anything else he's written.

03-06-2009, 03:21 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Doesn't surprise me at all that people would lie about this. I've always been wary of these polls that put books like "War and Peace" at the top of peoples' "favourite books" list. I wonder how many people have read it? I haven't. Have to agree about 1984, though. Damn good book. Why lie about it? Just read it!

03-06-2009, 06:55 AM	#6
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Seems like a :tongueincheek: survey just to get some funding....No one asked me....

03-06-2009, 11:21 AM	#8
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,781 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Polar Vortex Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	If my memory serves me right, 1984 was a book on my high school English curriculum. We all had to read it, or were supposed to read it! WDE.

03-06-2009, 11:28 AM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I haven't read 1984 yet, but it's on my Reader.

03-06-2009, 01:38 PM	#13
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	Women love liars. That's an excellent way to pick up gals. At least the British are apparently well informed enough about books to lie about reading them. The average American "Joe 12-pack" wouldn't be familiar enough with the books' titles to lie about them. (Just being hard on my country. ) Thanks for the comment about War and Peace being a good read. I've often considered it and now that I have an ebook reader I don't have to be intimidated about its size.