30% of British households don't own a book.

[Lanky123]

Whats a book? i dont own any other than the Motherboard manuals i keep for no reason as i have never read one.

No recipe books? No random autobiography, hobby/interest books or other crappy light reading someone gave as a present and you threw on a shelf somewhere? No copy of the Guinness book of records or an encyclopedia or something you got just because it was cheap or it came free with a newspaper?

Even if they don't get read I find it hard to believe most people haven't got something tucked away somewhere.

[Mama Sumae]

I blame apple.

Why be an obnoxious idiot regarding your reading habits when you can simply own the latest MacBook Pro.

.

[Saracen]

For me, e-books and 'proper' books both have their place. I'm an e-book fan, but they will not replace actual paper books, or at least, not entirely.

Having said that, I'm one of those that actually went out and bought a customised database package, just to keep track of my book collection, not just what I've got but where it is. Put it this way - I've got a large shelf (and a bit) on cookery books alone, and the same again on art. And if you put those together and triple it, you'd be somewhere near the computer book section. And put all that together, and it's a drop in the ocean compared to the fiction books. I measure my fiction books by yards of shelf, and I'm up to a decent-sized number of yards, too.


Oh, and a Dickens collection that the man himself could have (but sadly, didn't) sign, because they're contemporaneous with him ... and a complete set of Shakespeare older than that.

Also, if I'm not sleeping or working, there's a pretty good chance you'll find me with my nose in a book. A nice, quiet room, a comfortable chair, the music on in the background, a drink in one hand and a good book in the other - if heaven exists and I go there, that's what I'm expecting to find it looks like.

[pollaxe]

I would go stark, raving mad if I didn't read. I love books, I love to read. One of my favourite things is to eat a meal and read, I've loved doing that since I was a nipper, even though it's considered rude.

I keep my books and re-read them, getting rid of one is a big decision as I may come back to it at some point.

I find the idea of households with nothing to read both depressing and baffling, tbh...

[Saracen]

I would go stark, raving mad if I didn't read. I love books, I love to read. One of my favourite things is to eat a meal and read, I've loved doing that since I was a nipper, even though it's considered rude.

I keep my books and re-read them, getting rid of one is a big decision as I may come back to it at some point.

I find the idea of households with nothing to read both depressing and baffling, tbh...

Bear in mind, some people find it easy to read, some finder it hard and for some, it's a huge struggle. A relative of mine is dyslexic, and while she reads, it's much harder work than it is for me. Then, some are more literate than others, and some simply have less available and disposable time, or chose to use it another way, like going to the pub, or the gym. etc.

I don't find the non-readers baffling, though I couldn't do it and I do think they're missing out hugely. They'd probably think I'm missing out on the gym and/or pub. I guess it's all about perceptions, perspective and preferences.

[Domestic_Ginger]

It makes me sad that when my kids grow up they won't read books anymore. Everyone will be using ebooks etc.

To be honest I do not buy books anymore. I loan them from the library or buy second hand and then just donate them to a charity shop. I'm approaching a more minimal lifestyle......

[pollaxe]

Bear in mind, some people find it easy to read, some finder it hard and for some, it's a huge struggle. A relative of mine is dyslexic, and while she reads, it's much harder work than it is for me. Then, some are more literate than others, and some simply have less available and disposable time, or chose to use it another way, like going to the pub, or the gym. etc.

I don't find the non-readers baffling, though I couldn't do it and I do think they're missing out hugely. They'd probably think I'm missing out on the gym and/or pub. I guess it's all about perceptions, perspective and preferences.

All valid points but I do wonder what the proportion of those households mentioned represent reading difficulties/dyslexia as opposed to.. I don't know.. preference/choice/apathy/indifference...? This is referencing households, so I imagine the average is more than one person? This suggests to me that there are whole families who don't own a single book. Presumably this would include kids of school age? That's what I find particularly depressing/baffling with this.

I wonder also, how many of those households have an online reading habit? Do they browse websites or various forums instead of books?

In all honesty, feel I have chuff all spare time but I make room for books and exercise and the pub (occasionally) too! Most of my quality reading time is done before sleep - though it's sometimes a bad idea as I plan to do a 10-20 minute read and find that I've got lost in whichever world I'm reading about and it's gone to 1-2 hours and it's late...

[Zak33]

Whats a book? i dont own any other than the Motherboard manuals i keep for no reason as i have never read one.

with a name like Pancake, I fail to believe you don't own a cookery book.

[Pancake]

No recipe books? No random autobiography, hobby/interest books or other crappy light reading someone gave as a present and you threw on a shelf somewhere? No copy of the Guinness book of records or an encyclopedia or something you got just because it was cheap or it came free with a newspaper?

Even if they don't get read I find it hard to believe most people haven't got something tucked away somewhere.

I honestly dont own one, why bother when i can get all the info i need off the net?

with a name like Pancake, I fail to believe you don't own a cookery book.

I memorized the recipe yearrrsss ago

[riding moon]

I try not to own books and is there enough time for me to relax and take one one, occasionally yes. I travel around far too much and I personally want to free myself of tangible objects. So ereader if perfect for me.

[doyll49]

30% don't own a book.

Yeah.

Chickens have lips.

Pigs fly.

[Pilgrim_uk]

That is something I actually miss is my bookcase that's now at my parents. Still got a book stash but its not the same as having a good old bookcase to look over.

[RichieLee]

I cant fathom how it could be that 30% of households dont own a single book, you kidding me?

As much as I like the concept of e-readers they still dont replace books for me and I dont believe they will ever truely supercede books. I have a shelf crammed with books covering, arts, Sciences, various fiction, Haynes manuals, and all sorts!

Maybe I'll be called a romanticist and closed-minded, but you cant beat the ritual and tactility of a real book.

[Wolf74]

I haven't stopped to read a book since I left school, I read for university purposes but it's not really enjoyable. I really want to get into autobiographies, mainly of sporting personalities and possibly some sci-fi, maybe the Halo books (I'm a gamer).

[Groundbeef]

I cant imagine being without books to be honest.

There is nothing more relaxing than lying by the pool somewhere with a throwaway novel that you aren't worried whether it gets suntan lotion, water, sand or whatever dropped all over it. Something that I just wouldn't feel comfortable subjecting an E-Reader to!

One of the things I like to do is to go through the shelves of the charity shops trying to search out a bargain for £1-£2. Its just not the same clicking on a buy button on some EBook store.

I have always got enjoyment from books, starting from The Village with three corner books when I was at primary school. I can still recall the names of the characters from those books now at the age of 34 and I just wonder if the same will be said when all the kids start to read from an E-Reader in the future.

Its the same thing as when people ask "What was the first record or CD you bought?" It sticks in your mind as it was a physical object you could hold and enjoy. If you were asked "What was the first MP3 you bought?" would you remember it as easily?

[Pancake]

I cant imagine being without books to be honest.

There is nothing more relaxing than lying by the pool somewhere with a throwaway novel that you aren't worried whether it gets suntan lotion, water, sand or whatever dropped all over it. Something that I just wouldn't feel comfortable subjecting an E-Reader to!

One of the things I like to do is to go through the shelves of the charity shops trying to search out a bargain for £1-£2. Its just not the same clicking on a buy button on some EBook store.

I have always got enjoyment from books, starting from The Village with three corner books when I was at primary school. I can still recall the names of the characters from those books now at the age of 34 and I just wonder if the same will be said when all the kids start to read from an E-Reader in the future.

Its the same thing as when people ask "What was the first record or CD you bought?" It sticks in your mind as it was a physical object you could hold and enjoy. If you were asked "What was the first MP3 you bought?" would you remember it as easily?

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