Is Reading a Woman Thing?

1246

Replies

  • Absidey
    Absidey Posts: 116 Member
    My bookclub is mostly women, but I have a lot of male friends who read too. My husband likes to read, but is picky about content, so he doesn't end up reading very much. His grandfather has more books than I've ever seen in one room before. One of my friend's husbands likes to chat books when I'm over for a ladies night, because I like sci-fi and his wife is all chick lit.

    I DO get tired reading something over my head or with odd pacing. I have to do it in bits, and not at night in bed or lieing on the couch. You might try another book if you just can't keep your eyes open.
  • Wpbarr
    Wpbarr Posts: 142 Member
    Sports? I have no time to watch sports let alone read about it! I participate in 2, but that's it. On average, I read 3-4 dozen books a year, including technical/professional development publications. All of my male friends read a lot, then again, we all get paid to use our brains.
  • vbrent07
    vbrent07 Posts: 115
    I read at least a book a week when I have time. As for my husband and other guy friends/relative at least 95% of them read whenever they have time. You shouldn't be embarrassed about it!
  • Meaganandcheese
    Meaganandcheese Posts: 525 Member
    My family all share a Kindle library and 90% of the books are my dad's. Mr Cheesefries isn't much of a fiction reader unless he's traveling, but he really enjoys reading online newspapers, blogs, magazines, etc.

    I read a ton, always have. I do know plenty of people (men and women) who don't enjoy reading. I don't think it has anything to do with gender.
  • numindan
    numindan Posts: 163 Member
    I read 2-3 fiction books (sci-fi, fantasy, crime procedurals, mysteries, etc.) a week and way too many academic texts and papers to keep track of.

    I attribute my appetite for reading to my dad. When I was wee, my dad used to take the family to the library and check out as many books as his card would allow. Every evening after helping us with our homework we toddled off to bed and dad sat at the kitchen table reading. And he read everything and anything he could get his hands on. For hours and hours on end.

    As we got older our bedtime could be delayed as long as we were reading.

    My mom tells me it was my dad who read to us when we were infants and my dad was the one to teach me to read.

    I'm thrilled that my husband has the same appetite for books. He too was raised by two voracious readers.
  • cherrybomb_77
    cherrybomb_77 Posts: 411 Member
    I don't think so. When I think of the people I know as readers vs. non-readers, males and females are pretty evenly distributed.
  • Vince_1964
    Vince_1964 Posts: 359 Member
    I read all the time - sometimes have 2-3 books going simultaneously. I've always been an avid reader - history, fiction, biography - doesn't really matter, but kind of depends on my mood. My wife got me a Nook last year for my b-day since I read so much. So, no, it is NOT a woman thing. A number of my guy friends and family read quite a bit - but I also know many who don't. I think reading expands your mind/horizons ...
  • AtticusFinch
    AtticusFinch Posts: 1,262 Member
    OK, no one has answered the tired question. Don't you get tired? I just can't read that much. I enjoy it when I can, but if I sit down to read, I'm usually asleep within 30 mintues. Whereas I can watch TV unendlingly for hours without falling asleep.

    Your opening post was odd, why would you be embarrassed about reading? The sounds very insecure IMHO.

    I read and have done since childhood. I'm reading through some of the freebie classics you can get for Kindle at present.

    Falling asleep can be a problem if you've had a particularly busy day. I think the main issue may be your interest level and finding the elusive 'good read'. Try some fiction, it's often a good hook that draws you in - or start with a collection of short stories, or a novella.

    'The Five People You Meet in Heaven' is a good story and relatively short. Get it out of the library, along with some other likely candidates, and give them a bash. If they don't reel you in within 3 chapters, try something else. Once you find an author who works for you, try other titles by the same person,
  • Sox90716
    Sox90716 Posts: 976 Member
    I don't think it's a woman thing, I think it's a smart person thing :) My fiance likes to read science and history books. I'm not sure I could really date a guy that doesn't like to read, because I like smart nerdy guys. To me, seeing a guy absorbed in a good book is a turn-on.

    ^^This.
  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    Personally I can't wait to get home tonight and lay on the couch and read...that's how exciting my Friday night is going to be.
  • 2muchsauce
    2muchsauce Posts: 1,078
    Most of my reading is done to my kids right before bedtime:)
  • numindan
    numindan Posts: 163 Member
    OK, no one has answered the tired question. Don't you get tired? I just can't read that much. I enjoy it when I can, but if I sit down to read, I'm usually asleep within 30 mintues. Whereas I can watch TV unendlingly for hours without falling asleep.
    No. I tend to get energized. I usually have to set an alarm that tells me to put down the book and go to bed if I'm reading in the late evening. If the book is written well, I've been known to stay up until I've finished it. Reading all through the night is pretty common for me. Again, I "blame" my dad for this behaviour ;)
  • sillygoose1977
    sillygoose1977 Posts: 2,151 Member
    I know a lot of men who read. It is actually something I look for in a man.

    "If you go home with somebody and they don't have books, don't **** them." -John Waters
  • jesusHchris
    jesusHchris Posts: 1,405 Member
    Personally I can't wait to get home tonight and lay on the couch and read...that's how exciting my Friday night is going to be.

    Haha, I feel you brother!
  • catshark209
    catshark209 Posts: 1,133 Member
    I belong to a group on FB about the Dark Tower books and most of the members are men. The core people that comment anyway, myself and another woman are the only females that spend a lot of time there.
  • imthelobster
    imthelobster Posts: 179 Member
    I read lots of books, and LOVE them. I have a Kindle that collects books, as well as the multitudes of books on shelves. Slowly weeding my way down from those due to space.
  • ClareWantsProgress
    ClareWantsProgress Posts: 173 Member
    My hubby and I both read voraciously - and instead of making me tired, I have the opposite problem where I'm up half the night engrossed in a good story and forget to go to bed!!!

    Maybe you'd do better with audio books if your eyes get tired. Or get your eyes checked out and make sure you have the right prescription? Just a thought.

    My husband does not follow sports but is tremendously into world events, politics, science, history, and mechanical things. I love mystery, general fiction, historical, political, music, and romance (if it's well-done and not like 50 Shades of Crap). Our bookcases look like a cross section of a Barnes & Noble! Don't be ashamed to read - you're much more likely to find a compatible group of friends through reading groups than by hanging out in a bar or sports arena merely because you think that's the "place to be" for guys.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I know a lot of men who read. It is actually something I look for in a man.

    "If you go home with somebody and they don't have books, don't **** them." -John Waters

    A friend of mine is a real estate agent. She was selling a guy's house at the same time my mom was looking for a house and she wanted to set me up with this guy, so she showed us the house (while he was home). This place had built0in bookshelves in every room but not a single book on any of the shelves. That is the only thing I remember about that house!
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    Do men read books?

    I do not have a single male friend that I know of that reads books. Oh, maybe a sports book on baseball history or something, but I have never seen one of my male friends read before. I read, but I hide it because I'm embarrassed because it seems like something women do. Also, it does appear that a lot of books are geared more for women than men. I have great difficulty finding books to read. I like rock & roll history, and other weird stuff. I don't like fiction much, unless it's really funny, or really scary. But, mostly I just read weird stuff, philosophy, other worldly material, diet and exercise, etc.

    I read every day. Average about 2 books a week. It's not a "woman thing". The majority of the bikers I ride with are readers too. I wouldn't call one of them "girly" to their face.
  • Captain_Tightpants
    Captain_Tightpants Posts: 2,215 Member
    OP, I suspect you are just reading the wrong books. What are your tastes in tv? Maybe we can use that to deduce some recommendations for you.
  • anels449
    anels449 Posts: 3,187 Member
    Do men read books?

    I do not have a single male friend that I know of that reads books. Oh, maybe a sports book on baseball history or something, but I have never seen one of my male friends read before. I read, but I hide it because I'm embarrassed because it seems like something women do. Also, it does appear that a lot of books are geared more for women than men. I have great difficulty finding books to read. I like rock & roll history, and other weird stuff. I don't like fiction much, unless it's really funny, or really scary. But, mostly I just read weird stuff, philosophy, other worldly material, diet and exercise, etc.

    I'm an English major and there does seem to be a higher amount of females in the classes than males. But most of my professors are males, and actually the head of my English department is a hilarious Welsh male who plays rugby on the side.

    That being said, I do know plenty of males who read. There are some phenomenal male authors out there as well. Don't be embarrassed for your love of reading! Reading is a wonderful way of expanding your imagination, learning new things, and a great way to relax. :)
  • HealthyBodySickMind
    HealthyBodySickMind Posts: 1,207 Member
    OK, no one has answered the tired question. Don't you get tired? I just can't read that much. I enjoy it when I can, but if I sit down to read, I'm usually asleep within 30 mintues. Whereas I can watch TV unendlingly for hours without falling asleep.

    It depends on the book. If I'm reading a textbook, yeah, I'm out pretty quick. When I was reading "the girl with the dragon tattoo" series, I only got about four hours of sleep a night because I couldn't put them down.
  • 10acity
    10acity Posts: 798 Member
    Intelligent people read. It doesn't always have to be books. Articles, essays, short stories count, too. Being ashamed that you like reading is... weird, frankly.


    If you're talking about tripe like 50 Shades of Gray, I can't help you. Tons of people read crap. I always try to tell myself at least they read, but I'm never quite convinced that's a solid argument.
  • jdploki70
    jdploki70 Posts: 343
    Also, the book was better than the movie. Just saying. :)

    Never once has there been a comparison where the movie was better.
    The Terminator series. Really, those never should have gone to print...but I did read all of them. Oh, and Star Wars series. The original books were great, but when they remade them to fit to movies they ruined the whole thing.
  • TheNewDodge
    TheNewDodge Posts: 607 Member
    I spend a lot of time on planes and in airports. I read quite a bit. Love fiction, particularly the classics like Jack London, Ernest Hemingway and Danielle Steele
  • mznisaelaine
    mznisaelaine Posts: 2,262 Member
    Men do read.

    Men who loves to read is so attractive to me :love:
  • Still_Fluffy
    Still_Fluffy Posts: 341 Member
    I read all the time mostly ficton, but some good non-ficton too. I have a couple of freinds that read a lot too. But more that don't. It doesn't make sense to me. I learn so much from reading, even ficton books.
  • DavetheHYNIC
    DavetheHYNIC Posts: 318 Member
    I just read "1861" by Adam Goodhart
    Last week. I usually read about 1 or 2 a month
    on my Kindle Fire. I have loved to read since I was
    a kid .But I am the only guy I know whose not in prison
    Who reads incessantly , so you might have a point.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Also, the book was better than the movie. Just saying. :)

    Never once has there been a comparison where the movie was better.
    The Terminator series. Really, those never should have gone to print...but I did read all of them. Oh, and Star Wars series. The original books were great, but when they remade them to fit to movies they ruined the whole thing.

    Rebecca was better than the book.

    The Notebook was leaps and bounds better than the book.

    I haven't read the book, but I've heard the movie of Practical Magic is better than the book.

    There are a few others, but those are the ones off the top of my head.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    My husband reads books. He used to read this sci-fi fantasy series but now he's into reading financial books. I know plenty of men that read.

Categories