Is Reading a Woman Thing?

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.

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!

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.

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 ...

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.

Most of my reading is done to my kids right before bedtime:)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.