a lifestyle blog for book lovers

What avid readers do differently and why 80% of books are bought by women. (It’s not what you think.)

You’ve probably read the apocalyptic stats: 24% of Americans will not read a book this year. 42% of college grads never read another book after college.

It’s not as dire as all that.

According to Pew, the typical American read or listened to 5 books in the past year. The average for all adults was 12 books in the past year.

That means a small number of adults are reading a ton. We call them avid readers, and there are a few things they do differently.

Avid readers read more narrative. Their favorite genres are:

  1. Historical fiction
  2. Crime and mystery
  3. Food and wine
  4. Biography and autiobiography
  5. Popular fiction
  6. Literary fiction

See that third entry above? Avid readers read more cookbooks, which is indicative of the way they approach books in general: avid readers are used to looking at books as the go-to place for high quality info. When they want to find a new recipe an avid reader is much more likely to browse the cookbook section than food.com.

cook with a book instead

Avid readers are much more likely to visit a bookstore in the first place, compared to the 70% of adults who haven’t been in a bookstore in the past 5 years.

Avid readers are overwhelmingly female (88%). The largest age cohort is 25-44, and avid readers drop off with age. The typical avid reader is a 40-year-old female.

At first blush, this seems to correspond with purchasing data: it’s been well-documented that women purchase far more books than men: women make approximately 80% of all book purchases. (As Ian McEwan famously stated: “When women stop reading, the novel will be dead.”

That 80% figure is thrown around as evidence of the intellectual decline of the American male. But just because men purchase a mere 20% of the books, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re reading only 20% of the books.

Women are much more likely to make purchases for the household than men. That 80% figure includes women’s purchases for themselves, of course, but also for their kids, their partners, and for gifts. (My own household provides evidence of this phenomenon: all independent bookstore purchases, Amazon purchases, and library checkouts are made in my name alone.)

These stats about avid readers made me feel better about the state of my nation’s reading habits. Sometimes the stats are shocking, but reading is far from dead.

Are you an avid reader? Do you resonate with these stats?

p.s. This post was based on a presentation by The Reading Room at Book Expo America. Read more about my experience at Book Expo America here.

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  1. beth says:

    I consider myself an avid reader. I read about 100 books per year. I imagine though that it is all relative. I probably don’t look too avid to someone who reads 200+ books per year. My husband is also an avid reader. Interestingly, we are exrememly low purchasers of books. 99% of our books come from the library.

  2. Sara K. says:

    Sometimes I forget that not everyone reads as much as I do. When I casually mention how many books I’ve read this year (or how many I am reading at a time which is usually 3 – 1 paper book, 1 kindle book, 1 audio book), their eyes get a little wider 🙂

    • Kelly says:

      I agree! Sometimes I feel like people think I do nothing other than read books! Although I wish that were the case, it’s not. When others watch TV, I read books.

  3. Addie says:

    I consider myself an avid reader – Im on #35 so far this year… I do love going in bookstores and looking but rarely do I buy one – Im working my way through our local library’s YA section, since I do read so much, I could not imagine spending that much money on books! But then we are a family of 6 and our head bread winner is a middle school teacher (who also loves to read) so maybe we aren’t the average family.

    To the contrary on the cookbook thing though… I rarely read cookbooks and if Im looking for a new recipe, to the internet, I go…. of course, I’m also a voracious blog reader…. maybe its just the gen-x-er in me… 🙂

    • Courtney says:

      Completely agreed on the cookbooks. I skip right over that section whenever I’m in a bookstore. I just don’t think they’re a good deal. Why spend money on a full book of recipes when I’ll probably only end up making a handful of them with any regularity? I can get exactly what I want for free online. I have several virtual “cookbooks” of recipes saved in folders on my Internet browser. They’re easy (and free!) to reference, take up no space, and I keep only the ones I like. 🙂

      • Dana says:

        I check cookbooks out of the library first and if I see a bunch of recipes I know I’ll make again and again, *then* I buy it.

        A similar genre I have issues with is crochet/knitting patterns. With recipes there’s hardly any quality loss if you just access the free stuff, but if you only stick to free patterns, chances are very good you’ll run into a lot of the ones where they do not include gauge, where they tell you to go up a hook size to change the size of the project, and where they do not tell you the finished measurements of the project. It really is a better deal to pay for patterns.

  4. Kate Unger says:

    Very interesting. I am an avid reader – YA, contemporary fiction, some literary or history fiction. Like Beth I almost only use the library to get new books. Like Addie I usually find recipes online.

  5. Kayris says:

    I am absolutely an avid reader. 87 so far this year and my goal is 180. I was raised in a family of readers (my dad catalogs his books and he has over 1500 of them) and both my kids love to read as well. The hubs was never a reader but reads more since he married me.

    The majority of our books come from the library though. I only buy books I know I will read again. Authors that I love that are consistently good, or books I’ve read and loved in the past.

    And I love cookbooks but don’t buy TOO many of them because of space issues. Also, I get Food Network magazine. The library is also a great place for cookbooks. Try it out before you buy it! However, when I’m cooking with time constraints, I go to the Internet.

  6. Adrienne says:

    I consider myself an avid reader, reading about 100 books a year. I’d read more but that pesky job-thing takes up a lot of time…. I read about 90% fiction and 10% non-fiction, and although I usually go to a cookbook before the internet when searching for a recipe, I wouldn’t say that I “read” cookbooks.

    I usually have three books going at any one time: a novel, a non-fiction (which I read at a much slower pace), and something on my kindle, which I always take with me so I can read anywhere anytime!

    Great post Anne!

    • Anne says:

      Because the fines on overdue items got out of control, very quickly. I’m sure there’s another way to manage that, but I haven’t summoned the time and energy to figure it out yet.

      • Kayris says:

        I can’t remember how old your kids are. But my library system offers a “first card” for younger kids, they can check out up to 30 items at a time, and no late fines.

        Mine both have their own cards now. But the email linked to their accounts is mine, so I get the notices that items are due. It’s super easy to renew online.

        • Anne says:

          That “first card” sounds amazing! Kids at my local library can read at the library to pay down their fines, but we don’t typically do that these days.

      • Allison says:

        That makes total sense. 🙂 I just imagined the landmark of getting your own library card would be akin to ear piercing in your family, lol 🙂 Thanks for your reply!

  7. Miriam B says:

    Judging from the looks of amazement from my friends, family, and husband as I talk about the books I’ve finished, I am definitely an avid reader (lol). I have been this way for as long as I can remember and my first actual word was “book”. 🙂

  8. Hannah says:

    Can one be an avid reader if she reads slowly through a book, but is always reading something? I feel I’m reading all the time, but I can’t consume book after book at lightening speed. I guess I’m like a cow chewing its cud.

      • Adrienne says:

        I agree! I think it’s more the fact that you choose to spend time reading that makes you an avid reader, not the sheer number of books you read.

    • Corby says:

      You and me both. Those who read 100+ books in a year, I bow to you. I thought I was doing great challenging myself to read 32 this year. I’m right there with ya in the pasture oh slow cud chewing reading….mooo

    • smh says:

      I would also say “yes,” as you’re continually reading. I read a great deal for work (an academic position) and prefer mostly literary fiction for pleasure, so there’s no way I’m getting through 100 leisure books per year. But I would certainly consider myself an avid reader.

    • Nellie says:

      Absolutely! I looked up the definition of “avid” because I am a dictionary nerd and like to know *exactly* what a word means. Avid means “having a keen interest in or showing an enthusiasm for” not “having a keen interest and making as progress with my keen interest as humanly possible in X many months.”

      mooooo

  9. Victoria says:

    I’ve always loved books, but never considered myself a “book worm” until recently. Maybe I’ve always been one…I just always thought that I didn’t read enough books or fast enough to be considered a true book nerd.

    This post was interesting and pretty spot on. The genres describe me perfectly!

  10. Janet says:

    I am an avid reader, I’m well over 40, have a Master’s Degree in Education and have always read, a lot. I average about 130 books a year. I’ll read just about anything except “Chick Lit”. I do buy books for my husband, he hates trolling through Amazon, which is where I buy most of my books, and so I do it for him. Sometimes he gives me book titles to order for him. He reads mostly nonfiction.
    I do read cookbooks, but I prefer those that have stories connected to them.

  11. Jenny says:

    I was raised by an avid reader, hope to be considered to be one, and I’m working to make sure my children will be as well. So far so good. There are too many great books for us to enjoy, and not enough time. One of my favorite times as a mom and as a teacher is reading books aloud to my kids. I don’t contribute to the statistic of purchasing books however since the library provides us with 95% of our books. The others I buy at used book stores. Only special books we love are purchased new for our home libraries.

  12. Dawn says:

    I am avid reader and often have 3 books going at once, one fiction, one non-fiction and one I am reading together with my kids. My husband does read but not avidly and I do purchase the books he reads as gifts. Also, every birthday present we give includes a book. I love going to the bookstore to see what is out there and always buy one book but the majority of my books come from the library – unfortunately I have neither the funds nor the space to purchase all the books I read! I read most genres though with thriller and crime I have to be careful with as they can scare me sleepless! I also find my genre are cyclical, depending on the weather, nothing too heavy during the winter months.

  13. Sarah M says:

    I am definitely an avid reader–I read about 50+ books (just for myself, not counting all the novels and picture books I read aloud to the kids–that’s in the hundreds at *least*), and out of any type of fiction, I love historical fiction most. I am a huge library user, too, and rarely buy books, unless I know I’ll have to take my time with them (i.e. more than the allotted 6 weeks and 2 renewals!). My most recently purchases of books have been cookbooks and The Story of Science, by Susan Wise Bauer, which will probably take me two months to finish, with only about 5 pages read a day. It’s really heavy, but I’m learning a lot. 🙂
    Sarah M

  14. Susan says:

    I’m surprised at the statistic that reading drops off as people age. I’d think that younger adults who enjoy reading would increase the amount of time they read as they become empty nesters & retirees. My grandparents were definitely avid readers well into their 80’s.

    • Lisa S says:

      This surprised me too. I’m 48 and my reading has definitely ramped up more in the last couple years with the kids being older and more independent. Plus with them being away more at different things I just have more time.

  15. Have you read anything by Donalyn Miller? As a reader and homeschooler, her Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer’s Keys to Cultivating Life-Long Reading Habits would be right up your alley.

  16. I consider myself an avid reader; last year I read 52 books, and am still averaging about one book a week this year. That said, I haven’t purchased a book in a long time. Instead, I make it to the public library weekly. It would be interesting to see some statistics on library usage.

    • Kayris says:

      I too would love to see library stats. I feel like where I live, the public library is vastly underused. People don’t realize what a great–and usually free–resource it can be.

      Example-I wanted to read a book by a blogger I like, but my library system doesn’t own it, so I requested it through the inter library loan service, which allows you to borrow books from other library systems in the state without having to have a card for that system. If the state doesn’t have it they will look for it out of state.

      When the book came, I didn’t recognize the library so I googled it and discovered the book had come all the way from Texas! (I live in Maryland.). For free!

      The children’s librarians have been awesome too. Huge help with school projects, and they also know what books my kids like. More than one librarian has put a book aside for one of my kids, knowing we are are in often, because she thinks they would like it.

      • Kayris says:

        Cool link! And as I thought, my library is under utilized. Lowest circulation per capita in the state at 1.96. For comparisons sake, the highest in the country is 163.something.

        Sad but not surprising, considering the city I live in.

  17. Renee says:

    as an English Professor and Poet, I read quite a bit! But I only purchase maybe two or three books a year–Interlibrary loan, the local library, and borrowing from friends keeps me pretty busy. I wonder how those statistics would change if they were to take into account avid readers who use the library?

  18. Sloan says:

    I would call myself an avid reader, simply because I have a book going (almost) all the time. I may not get to 100 books a year, but I also have a full time job. However, my husband is doing well if he reads one book a year. It’s just not his thing, even though I wish it was.

  19. Dana says:

    I was raised to be an avid reader and at 59 I still am. My mother rewarded us with Golden Books when we were little ( rather than candy or treats) and took us to the library as often as we wanted to go.

    I have read 48 books so far this year, my goal is 100, so I am on track! I read literary fiction, contemporary fiction, classics, non-fiction, YA, mysteries, fantasy, cookbooks and books on art, creativity, writing and faith. I usually have several books going at once…a fiction, a non-fiction, a faith based plus one on writing and several on art.

    My husband is 63 and is also an avid reader…we met in a bookstore! Both of us take books wherever we go. We love to go out to eat and sit and read at the table and then share what we are reading with each other. He reads non-fiction, historical fiction and thrillers. We give books to each other for all occasions and shop mostly at our Indie bookstore just down the street. One of our favorite dates is to go to the bookstore after dinner and just browse and read and have coffee/tea dessert. We also make Indie and Used bookstores destinations for day trips.
    I get books from the library, from Amazon ( Kindle), from our indie store, from used bookstores and sometimes from Barnes and Noble. We have lots of books in our house! He has his own bookshelves in his office and I have mine in my studio and in the den plus a few piles here and there.

  20. Stephanie says:

    The stats fit, I guess I am your average, typical, avid reader. I’m 40 years old, prefer to cook with a book and historical fiction is my favorite genre although I dabble in many genres.

  21. Sorry my phone was done before I was!

    … Although I am not really a bookstore frequenter. Where we live there just aren’t many, and I am pretty thrifty. I am more likely to buy books (especially for the kids) at Goodwill, then Amazon, but mostly the library. My husband reads almost exclusively from the library, kindle deals, or gifts – if he really wants a keeper book (generally mathy) he asks for it for a holiday.

  22. Debra G says:

    Interesting. I consider myself an avid reader. I probably don’t read as many books as most of you because I tend to be a slow reader, but I read about 52 books in a year. I always have at least 3 books going at one time, besides my Bible reading: one fiction, one non-fiction, and one biography/non-fiction I’m reading to my boys…plus, any book I’m reading with my Bible study group, and fiction chapter books I’m reading to my boys.
    I’m 46 years old. I was surprised that reading drops off as people get older. I would think that people would have more time to read once the kids were grown. Plus, I look at my mom, who is severely crippled, and that’s pretty much all she does anymore. My boys are all avid readers; they are 18, 15, and 8. We don’t buy a lot of our books, though. We usually get them from the library because money is tight. I agree with being the primary purchaser of books for the family.

  23. pam says:

    I am an avid reader – reading around 100 books a year. And I’m 72 years old and the number of books I read has increased over the last 10 years when I have more time for books. I rarely purchase a book as I’m on a limited income, but use my local library. So I’m outside the statistics.

  24. Anna says:

    I definitely consider myself an avid reader and I fit this profile well. I don’t like Historical Fiction or Crime and Mystery, but the other four categories are what I read, for the most part. And I buy most of the books for the family. The part that I most heartily agree with is that I believe books are the best place to get info about any topic. While I use the internet more than average and love it for being so handy, the information you find is wide and shallow. When I was an academic librarian I taught students that if you look at the various media, the longer it takes to get to publication usually means the information will be higher quality. This is obviously a generalization and there are many terrible books and many fabulous websites out there, but it’s still a good way to filter information. Books are the final and most curated information about a topic and are well worth seeking out for information. I think avid readers know this, even if they don’t know that they know this. When researching something, it’s best to look at all the media – the twitter feed as it happened, the next day’s newspaper, the weekly magazines, the monthly magazines, the scholarly journals, and the books. That will give you a well-rounded perspective. Anyways, I just totally geeked out there about books and information.

    • Anne says:

      “When I was an academic librarian I taught students that if you look at the various media, the longer it takes to get to publication usually means the information will be higher quality.”

      I’ve never heard it articulated this way before. Fascinating.

  25. Lisa says:

    Hi, I love your blog and thanks to you I have read some fantastic books this year! I couldn’t put The Martian down 🙂 Dragonfly in Amber and Station Eleven are up next. I used to spend a fortune on books, then I bought a Kobo Glo but wasn’t spending any less as the cost of an ebook is about the same if not more plus I dislike that any discounts Kobo offers are on a select list of books which means they dictate what I read if I want to take advantage of a sale. So at the beginning of the year, I rediscovered my library. In particular, they have an online digital library which you can reserve and check out books without even going into the physical library. Moreover, I can read the digital books on my laptop, iPad and Kobo. It’s so awesome. The only downside is that popular books have multiple holds so you have to be willing to wait, and there is a 3 week time limit per checkout, so you have to read the book within that time frame which can be a challenge. If there are people waiting after you, you can’t check it out again, but you can go back on the waitlist. Also, they don’t have the new new books….but if you hold off awhile….eventually they seem to acquire it. All in all, it’s a wonderful free service worth taking advantage of.

  26. Janet says:

    Just adding to the list of library users! My reading list outstrips my book budget (basically non-existent)so off to the library I go. At a bookstore, impulse buying can add up…at the library it just means a bigger pile of books to check out! 🙂

  27. Alison S. says:

    I perfectly fit their typical avid reader profile. Female, late 30s, etc, etc. 🙂 I used to read over 100 books a year, but having little kids cut that number in half. My husband fits the male portion, too. He loves to read current events and research articles, but the only books he (mostly) reads are audio books when we travel. He says law school cured him of wanting to read books.

  28. Betsy says:

    I am an avid reader, but I hardly ever purchase books or enter a bookstore. Yet, I only read physical books. I am a library girl.

  29. judy says:

    I’m a 66 yo avid reader, and have been ever since I learned to read. I don’t even remember NOT knowing how to read. I spent my summers as a child haunting the bookshelves of our local library. I read across the spectrum and always have at least 2-3 books going at once. Different genres of course!
    My favorite thing to do on a Sunday morning is visit my nearby book store.

  30. Anne says:

    I’m an avid reader by this definition, and I almost always get my books through the library system. I love interlibrary loan. The books I buy are checked out of the library multiple times or a supportive nod to a favorite writer/blogger/artist: Nesting Place, Young House Love, Gretchen Rubin, Austin Kleon, Susan Wise Bauer. Sometimes, I lose my mind a bit at a used book sale, but mostly, I don’t buy books. I *am* the main book buyer in the family though. I’ve encouraged my husband to read more, facilitate and encourage what the kids read, etc.

  31. Trude says:

    My boyfriend and I are in our early 30s and both avid readers, but what I’ve always found interesting is I can hardly get to sleep without reading fiction, and he’ll consume all of Google News, and we both have favorite blogs we keep up with. And we both consume primarily digitally these days – I only buy printed books by my favorite authors or books I loved reading so much (on my tablet) that I want a hard copy to re-read and lend to friends. 🙂

  32. Bonnie-Jean says:

    I love ‘reading’ cookbooks and for the first read I cannot skip ahead but have to read them page by page like I would a novel.
    I’d be interested in what constitutes an avid reader – is it the quantity one reads or does simply reading every day make you an avid reader? I read daily and am pleased with myself it I get 30 books read in a year. Maybe I need to start counting those cookbooks I read in my book count!

  33. Shauna says:

    Avid reader here! I read about 50 books per year (less than a lot of commenters, but a lot for a homeschooling mom with two young kids at home). I use the library a lot, and I’ve bought a lot of books at the library lately (they sell their discards for $0.50-$1.00!). Like others, I’m the primary buyer in the family. I’m in my late 30s and read classics (undergraduate degree was in English lit), literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir (especially spiritual), and some self-help. I’m typically reading three books at a time: a novel, a nonfiction, and a spiritual book. Fun post and comments!

  34. Leanne says:

    My Mom taught me to read when I was four years old and I have been an avid reader ever since. My favorite memory of childhood was riding my bike to the library and bringing home a stack of books in my bike basket and reading outside on a blanket or on my friend’s front porch (yes, she was a reader too). When my kids were young, we read a chapter in a book every night before bed. Now as an empty nester, even though I work full-time, I have two-three books going at once – one on my Kindle, and a non-fiction or fiction book. I read between 60 – 100 books per year. I use the library for most of my reading material and free Kindle books. I also support my hometown indie bookstore occasionally.

  35. B J Apsley says:

    I am an avid reader and have been all my life. Yesterday, I turned 58 and spent part of the day at my “happy place”, the bookstore! I read about 150 books a year, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. I’d read more but I work full time! I read probably about 80% fiction of all types and 20% nonfiction. I definitely check to see what’s at the library and only buy books when the library doesn’t have them. I have a nook tablet with a kindle app so I can buy books from Amazon and B & N and when I buy books I usually buy used ones. I haunt the library book sales twice a year and check out the used books on Amazon and Thriftbooks.com. The statistics you quoted are pretty spot on, but I, like others was surprised about the avid reader tapering off after her 40s. I do read cookbooks, I’ll check them out from the library or pull them from the stacks at B & N and look through them, but I spend a lot of time on the internet cooking blogs looking for recipes and get most of my recipes from them. Also love to watch food network when I have time. Love your blog!

  36. Marci says:

    I consider myself a very avid reader personally (and I’m famous amongst my friends for my borderline hoarding/obsession with children’s literature!). However, I have never once catalogued or counted the number of books I’ve read in a month or a year! Am I unique in this? I’m feeling insecure! 🙂

  37. Ronica says:

    Compared to many of the comments here I do not seem like an avid reader. But I am definitely a reader. I went through a slump for a few years when my children were babies. But once I got back into reading I couldn’t get enough. Still can’t. I currently have two Kindle books and one audiobook going. Oh, and two hard copy cookbooks. The kind that are for reading. And I’m waiting anxiously for a hard copy book to arrive in the mail. I don’t have as much time as I would like to devote to reading. When I am really into a series I can read more than a book a week. But I end up neglecting other duties in the process. I’m happy to average a book or two a month.

  38. Joan says:

    I have been an avid reader since I learned to read. All the Bobbsey Twins,Nancy Drew, Beverly Gray,Judy Bolton books and others. Now I love historical novels and anything Amish. Also like reading magazines.
    Joan

  39. Jana says:

    I can’t imagine life without reading. I am so excited for my littles to be able to read chapter books in the next couple of years. I probably read 100+ books every year, and I’ve always got a stack from the library. I rarely buy new books – I use the library or buy used online from eBay and half.com. I also use paperbackswap.com quite a bit.

    I was raised in a house of readers. I even continued to consistently read novels/fiction throughout college – my roommates couldn’t understand why I would read for fun when I already had to read for classes. But I can’t understand why you wouldn’t read for enjoyment!?!? ?

  40. Marion says:

    Living in Brooklyn, I had to depend on the bookmobile that came to my elementary school once a week. I loved the HoneyBunch books and always bought the latest ones. Now I enjoy historical novels and American Girl stories.
    Marion

  41. Lynette says:

    Another avid reader here, along with my entire family. We are committed library users, and keep our village’s library’s circulation hopping! With seven children, we usually borrow between 70 and 100 books weekly. We have access to many books through our county’s larger library system, and request books online. The library often has a big rubbermaid tub sitting under the counter, just with our requested book holds. We also borrow many more electronic and audio books. Most years I read between 80 and 100 books, but this year my number has increased quite a bit, since I started listening to audio books while I do daily tasks, and often while driving. Also, we borrow all our library books on my one card. It makes keeping track of everything manageable.

  42. For awhile I’ve been thinking that the concern over the country’s reading habits is a little much. I loved this analysis of reading stats… this makes total sense.

    I also read an article once that talked about the definition of reading. Often when people are asked about their reading habits they’ll say that they don’t really read anymore, but that doesn’t make sense. Do they read the news, do they read magazines, do they read blogs? This article stated that people tend to think of reading as opening up a book. While I think that everyone should read fiction (sort of kidding), if they don’t read fiction but they’re still reading some of these other things, they’re still reading. I wish I still had the link to that article, because it definitely made me think. This post reminded me of it. 🙂

  43. Marilyn says:

    I love to read or reread the YA series and some children’s books and series. I am partial to Honey Bunch,The Bobbsey Twins[being a twin myself] Nancy Drew ,Beverly Grey , Judy Bolton, Four Little Blossoms etc. I love historical novels ,Amish themes and some biographies. I find the books by Bill O’Reilly, Killing Lincoln,etc. interesting to say the least. R.F. Delderfield is my favorite author,his books are about England years ago. There are so many more books I enjoy,too many to mention. Magazines are great reads,too.
    Marilyn

  44. Molly says:

    I consider myself an avid reader (age 41) but don’t hold with all the “norms” in the article. I don’t read cookbooks, though I do have a small collection and love to cook, and do check out a few different online recipe sites for ideas. I do tend to read novels as my pleasure reading, but I also plow through at least a few nonfiction books each year. As to the norm that I (the only female in the house) read more than the males around me, that sadly is very true when it comes to books. One of my stepsons will go to the library and bookstore with me so I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will become an avid reader.

  45. Robyn says:

    There are three adults and four children in our household. All three adults make book purchases regularily – for ourselves and for our kids. I *do* consider myself an avid reader and I work hard every day to make reading an important part of our day. We read together, alone, out loud and silently 🙂

    My husband had never before considered himself a reader. But lately he’s become extremely insterested in learning about things he can’t learn exclusively from conversation. He’s a very hands-on guy but his interest is quite specialized and he just can’t find enough experts to satisify him. I’m thrilled that he’s now purchasing books online – both for his sake and for the sake of our boys who see his excitement building as the delivery date approaches, and his enthusiasm as he devours the book, page by page each night!

  46. Anna says:

    I’m an avid reader, and a 40yr old female, so I would fit right in. 🙂 I read most of the genres listed as the most popular, except I don’t read many biography/autobiography books. And I read from other genres, too. I tend to be reading 5-6 different books at a time, so when someone asks me “What are you reading now?”- they’re in for a long explanation!

  47. I fit the profile in every way but one: I read hardly any of the listed genres, but favor classic literature, Christian theology, and children’s books. Otherwise, I’m the one who buys the books for everybody! And I fall neatly within that age range 🙂

  48. Nikki says:

    I am avid reader. I don’t read cookbooks and I read a lot horror and fantasy. I am also 45 years old and have no intention to stop reading.

    • Lee Bartholomew says:

      Cookbooks probably not. I’m trying to lose weight. Generally read Fantasy Romance or Romantic Fantasy then Fantasy , Fantasy Hybrid (Sci Fi ) , Historical Fiction/Fantasy. Mostly High Fantasy. I also read Historical non fiction books now and then. Auto and Biography’s now and then, And some Christian books. as in you drop me in a bookstore the likelyhood of me walking out of one without a book is near 0. I’m the son of parents who met at a Library and ended up marrying. Yeah I have time for movies, online, and some music and other stuff I’ve done online that adult men tend to do. (naughty) I’d rather be reading . Better time spent.. I talked to one classmate when I was in 6 and she was in 8th grade but because 2 rooms held 6 grades it was easier to chat . So Age one really didn’t notice… I asked her if she reads books and only the bible came up. 🙁 Tons of movies and Anime O_O but no other book no other Christian book.. Don’t get that bit especially if she watches Anime. So do I but if she’s only reading the bible …….

  49. Helen says:

    When with friends recently someone said to the group,”which would you rather be doing- sleeping or eating?” Everyone had a choice, but when it came to me I said, “Reading!” over both those things. Historical fiction is my latest favorite genre- the best combination of a good story and a way to learn about the lives of others. I also love anything by Nathanial Philbrick or Candace Millard.

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