I remember the night perfectly. John and that i had been on two dates so far but for the third, he suggested I stop by and that we make dinner together. I hadn't visited his apartment yet so when I walked in, I immediately noticed something startling: he didn't own any books (he also had a cardboard box in the middle of his living room which had “costumes” scrawled quietly in Sharpie, but that is really a whole other story.)
I gave John the benefit of the doubt and asked if he did most of his reading on his e-reader or iPad. He said, “Nah, I don't enjoy to read. I believe I've only read five books within my entire life. I favor to look at movies.”
As somebody that makes their living with words and reads nearer to five books a month, I had been flabbergasted. I brushed it off having a “to each their own” comment, however in my head I had been screaming, “Who is this person who doesn't like books?!” I knew then and there that John and I didn't have a significant future as a couple.
If John have been more up on recent internet dating data, he may have had the foresight to pick up a magazine or, well, at the very least lie about being more literarily inclined. Literacy is a big switch on for both men and women.
A recent survey well over 800 singles revealed that 84 percent of people think that having read many books enables you to more attractive. Women may want a literary-minded lover: an astonishing 87 percent of ladies prefer a partner who's well-read. Eighty percent in men agree, with just 1 % of respondents stating they would not want to date somebody who read. (Newsflash guys: I'd rather not date you either.)
The survey demonstrated that what you read can also be important. Survey participants were inquired about the whole shebang of fiction they'd probab to see on the date's shelves, and they voted the following 10 books the most attractive of. If these titles aren't on your bookshelf yet, a trip to the library might be in order:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell
- The Lord of the Rings (series) by J. R. R. Tolkien
- The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
- The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
- The Hitchhiker's Help guide to the Galaxy (series) by Douglas Adams
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones series) by George R. R. Martin
So, exactly what do these results mean? With social commentary like To Kill a Mockingbird and 1984 topping their email list, it shows that within this day and age, singles prefer partners who've a powerful moral compass and a social conscience. Is the current news climate be accountable for this need to find morally-upstanding partners? Perhaps. Sales of George Orwell's 1984 have shot up recently following a U.S. election, and it is interesting to see this reflected in people's dating desires.
However, we're all also trying to find a getaway from searing commentary, and that's why fantasy and science fiction novels also fared exceptionally well within the survey. Women especially expressed a wish to determine fantasy on their date's nightstand, with 27 % of female participants listing God of the Rings in their top five books. Men's tastes run more towards Douglas Adams – 1 in 4 men want to see their date reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
So, why are singles so worried about what their date is reading? I've got a few ideas.
- People like other people with interesting hobbies. An affinity for books implies that you're interested in the world and open to learning new things – both desirable qualities inside a partner. Also, books lead to ideas and opinions, be responsible for interesting date discussions.
- It teaches you can concentrate on and invest in something. A love of reading indicates that you're able to start something and find out it through to the end. Spending hours with a book in order to get towards the end requires commitment and follow-through, that are also qualities we seek from your partners.
- It enables you to look smart. With the exception of that 1 percent of men that do not wish to date somebody that is well read (seriously, who're you?!), generally, many people wish to date someone who’s smart. Most of us still automatically associate literacy with brains.
This is to state, if you have been avoiding that dog-eared copy of 1984 which has been located on your coffee table for the past 5 years, now might be the time for you to finally get it. It could be the best thing you need to do for the love life come july 1st.