I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love doing this survey every year! For 2018 we had a record number of responses (just shy of 7000!) and I am grateful for every one of them.
I love this survey because it’s fun. It’s great to hear from you, and as a personality geek, survey-making and taking is oddly enjoyable. I love this survey because it satisfies my (and your) curiosity. Do I need to know whether you knew that 50 Shades of Grey started as Twilight fan fiction? Of course not. (But 34% of you knew.) And this survey is immensely helpful to me as a I plan for the blog, podcast, and book club. Your questions inspire new posts and your feedback helps set new directions as we continue to build our bookish community.
And your compliments? They warm my heart and let me know that we’re doing something right.
Now … on to the results.
You read a lot of books.Â
47% of people who responded have read over 50 books, and just over 1,000 readers have read more than 100.
These stats are just for fun, because around here we believe that reading is NOT a competitive sport. Please note that if you read 1-6 books each year, you are in very good company, and we salute you.
Nearly 20% of you just started reading the blog this year.
This was a curiosity question, and one of the results I found most surprising (probably because I feel like I’ve known so many of your names from the comments section for ages!). New readers: Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.
And to the 400+ readers who have been here for many years, thanks for sticking with me through the rough early photography.
Less than a quarter of you enjoy Facebook.
Although most of you still use it. Many readers told us in comments that they have never had a Facebook account.
This was a curiosity question: I don’t love (or even use) Facebook for personal reasons, but thought I was in the vast minority. I was wrong.
The life-saving power of books and coffee.Â
Once again, books and coffee (and to a lesser extent, tea) are saving your life right now. And since we always have the survey during the summer, air conditioning grabs a considerable number of votes. Some other less common but critical life savers: grocery pick-up services, Zoloft, naps, Trello, pets, school starting, and The Great British Baking Show.
“Tell me anything” is the best.Â
Every year, this is my favorite section. Not only do some of your questions and suggestions become blog ideas, but also, you’re funny. And sweet. (Make sure you read to the end.)
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- My TBR pile is taking over my guest room. Not kidding, it’s about 15 boxes. Good thing my husband isn’t all that observant.
- August is the sweaty armpit of the summer. I’m dying for fall. DYING.
- Honestly, my dream dinner party of living people includes Anne Bogel, Jamie Golden, Ree Drummond (the Pioneer Woman), and Jennifer Garner. Hopefully that’s not weird, because it’s true. 🙂 (Count me in. Can I sit next to Jennifer Garner?)Â
- If you didn’t read an Elin Hilderbrand on your beach vacation, did you even go to the beach?
- From a bookseller: A customer came in with a list of books she was looking for. By the third title, I asked, “Do you listen to What Should I Read Next?”
- Internet dating is REALLY hard.
- If cauliflower can be turned into pizza we can all do hard things.
- Anne is the reason I own a half dozen pairs of Tieks.
- I worked at B&N for 8 years and read Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone as an ARC. I told the morning meeting that this was going to be huge!
- Today I was late to work because my dog, Waffles, was asleep on my cell phone and I couldn’t find it anywhere.
- TWO readers told me they were newly-pregnant and nobody knew yet except their husbands, and asked for prayers and well wishes. Readers, would you send yours?
Readers, that’s it for our 2018 survey! Thanks again for reading, and for helping me make this a happier corner of the internet. xoxo -Anne
38 comments
My jaw dropped open at the comment about Harry Potter!! I didn’t even consider that there were people who had read that series before the public, so now I’m massively jealous 🙂 Such a neat story.
I loved your last “Tell Me Anything” comment… because I wasn’t pregnant (or aware of it?) when I took the survey, but I am now! We just found out on Monday. And no one knows but my husband and me. This will be our second. I’m excited and happy and nervous and DYING to tell EVERYONE!
HOORAY FOR BABIES!!!! Congrats, and thoughts and prayers for all pregnant readers here!! 🙂 If you need to take a shower, I’ll hold your babies!
Susan
Wife to 1, Mom to 3, Grammy to 7 (ages 2 to 10)
I’m a Grammy, too! To 8 with 2 more on the way (ages 1-8)! I adore being a grandmother and buying books for the g’kids.
Congratulations! What great timing for you to share here 🙂
Congratulations and prayers to you, secretpregnant!
Hahaha, this is my life if you replace Waffles the Dog with Pignoli the Cat: “Today I was late to work because my dog, Waffles, was asleep on my cell phone and I couldn’t find it anywhere.”
Mine would be – Today I was late for work because my dog (Could be Jake or Milo) was asleep on me and I felt guilty getting up. Is that pet paralysis?
My cat “Little” loves to sleep on my phone. She likes the vibration and the warmth. It makes me smile! (and I love that we share this)
I am convinced that my cat sleeps on my phone because he knows it’s the thing that distracts me the most from giving him attention. So, he tries to hide it from me, lol.
An ARC of Harry Potter! I’m so jealous. I’m haven’t read any of the Outlander books, but I’m good friends with Diana Gabaldon’s cousin. Her daughter grew up reading all of the books when they were still in manuscript form. I always thought that was so special.
About Facebook…sigh. I like it for groups and events. The rest I loathe, especially during elections.
I also really think that cauliflower quote needs to be on a t-shirt!
Sending prayers and best wishes to all of the new mamas and babies out there!
So fun to see these results! I was excited this year to bump myself up to the 50+ category when in previous years I eeked into the 25+. I’ve made a lot of changes in my life to fit what works and as a part of starting my day (early in the morning) I get in an hour plus of reading.
I have been on Facebook since the days when you had to be sent an invite. It has changed oh so much since then. The only reason I still have it is to share pictures of my kids with family members that never get to see them, as well as a mom group I have been in for a few years. We are all close and it’s quite the little community. If it weren’t for those things – I’d hop off. Social Media can be fun, but it’s time sucking and honestly I (we) could do without it.
Katie, “I’ve made a lot of changes in my life to fit what works”…
I’d be interested to know what some of those changes are to fit in more reading. I’ve always loved to read but barely read maybe 3 books a year now. I have an endless todo list that is always on my mind. I need to make time for what I really want to do.
The two biggest changes have been waking up at 5:30 am and putting down books that I’m not enjoying. I work a typical 8-5 and come home to two toddlers and a husband I’d like to spend time with. So I could either ignore them for an hour or so at night to get in my reading, or I could wake up early. This actually worked out really well for me because I’m an introvert and need that time to recharge before my day starts. I also thoroughly enjoy the morning quiet. By the time I’ve got my coffee and the dog fed, I have about 1.5 hours to read. It does not take me long to get ready for work, and my office is just a few minutes drive. Putting books down is still a work in progress, though. I’ve long been someone who finishes what they start. But I’ve DNF’d more books this year than I ever have previously. If I’m not enjoying a book, I don’t want to pick it up and my reading momentum slows down. Which in turn puts off other books I would devour. Some books, it just wasn’t the right time for me to read them, and others I just abandoned. I also read on the exercise bike at the gym 🙂
I had a WSIRN moment at the library as I was picking up 3 more Summer Reading titles the librarian made the comment that they were all books on her TBR list which lead to the inevitable question about the Summer Reading list and the podcast!! Its a very small world!
This post was the best and I laughed out loud at the cauliflower comment and teared up with the pregnant one. Love this blog! I also significantly bumped up my books read this year due to you! Tha is so much!
I’ve been reading many more books too and I know it’s because of the inspiration this blog provides.
*thanks so much
It seems there’s an astounding number of people using Facebook even though they dislike it. How perplexing. Why would anyone voluntarily do something that doesn’t bring them joy??? If it is to stay connected, my mom, aunts, nieces/nephews, sister and I all moved to Instagram for sharing photos & videos ~ it’s the social media for people choosing joy. ?
Facebook is the Walmart of social media.
Even though I deeply dislike both, I sometimes find myself there for specific things. But when you put it like that, I realize how silly it sounds to choose to let something in my life that does not bring joy! Thanks. I love your characterization of Instagram as the social media of people choosing joy- it seems true based on my experience.
LOVE! “Facebook is the Walmart of social media.” Amen!
Children’s activities. That’s why many of us cannot chuck it altogether. A lot of organizations/schools/events communicate essential news with parents through private pages on Facebook. If it weren’t for that, I’d be out of there! Instagram is a much happier place to be. (Although Facebook has done damage to it with their annoying algorithms. But that’s a whole other topic, ha ha!)
I totally agree about Instagram. It always makes me feel better about visiting. Facebook just made me feel angry and insecure. It helps that I’ve carefully curated the accounts I follow and that follow me on Insta. I haven’t yet deleted my Facebook account, but I’ve deactivated it. I honestly don’t miss it.
I’d like to cross-stitch “If cauliflower can be turned into pizza we can all do hard things.”
This will now forever be my yoga intention.
The best comment! If you make a pattern, send me one!
YES!!!!!
That would be a perfect cross-stitch project! WE all need this for our walls! lol
“Today I was late to work because my dog, Waffles, was asleep on my cell phone and I couldn’t find it anywhere.” <<– OMG! This sort of thing happened to my husband a few years ago and I completely forgot about it. The dog has now passed, so he was a senior and really out when we tried calling the phone. The vibration (since the ringer was off) was probably a nice massage for him. 🙂
These results are so fun! I’ve been looking forward to this post. This yearly poll also motivated me to increase my number of books read for the last several years ?
Congrats to all the sweet expecting mama’s! ??
I’d be interested to know if people do or don’t count audio books in their number of reads/year. I didn’t, but now I’m wondering if I should have!
Oh, I would count audio books! Definitely!
I personally don’t, but I wouldn’t apply that across the board to all readers. I have a hard time paying full attention to audio books. So am I really “reading” the book? I’m a visual person and do much better with words on a page.
Definitely count audio books in your number of yearly reads! It’s still reading!
Anne is the reason I own a half dozen pairs of Tieks. This is true for me too. Black, purple, pink, gold, copper, and the jewel collection emerald green!
“If cauliflower can be turned into pizza we can all do hard things.” = my new life motto! Whoever shared that nugget of wisdom, THANK YOU!!
And thank you Anne for sharing the results. I’m one of the 20% that just started reading MMD this year, and I’m so glad I found it! <3
Another newly pregnant lady here! I wish I could tell everyone but week 7 is still a bit too early.
So here is a request for you, Anne, and your blog readers: Do you have any reading tips for pregnant women and new moms? I don’t mean guidebooks but fiction or memoirs about pregnancy and motherhood.
I really loved the poll! Though I don’t know if I put on the last question how dangerous this podcast and blog have been to my reading/book buying budget!