Could you date someone who doesn't read?

[GenThomas]

Bravo! That's the sentiment I was trying to communicate

[Bighuey]

I can't imagine caring about a man who was stupid. If a man doesn't read, he can't be very clever!

@Rose
You are dismissing a very large % of the human race there, personally I care about a lot of people (men & women) who have no interest whatsoever in books or reading but they have other interests, skills & expertiese of which I am totally ignorant.
IMO not being a reader of itself does not make a person stupid nor does being a reader of itself make a person clever, intelligent or smart.

Right on, Fran. Ive posted on here my wives only read cookbooks and cheap trashy mush books, but that didnt make them any less of a person.

[C0ldf1re]

I can't imagine caring about a man who was stupid. If a man doesn't read, he can't be very clever!

@Rose
You are dismissing a very large % of the human race there, personally I care about a lot of people (men & women) who have no interest whatsoever in books or reading but they have other interests, skills & expertiese of which I am totally ignorant.
IMO not being a reader of itself does not make a person stupid nor does being a reader of itself make a person clever, intelligent or smart.

Right on, Fran. Ive posted on here my wives only read cookbooks and cheap trashy mush books, but that didnt make them any less of a person.

Possibly Rose is sure that she deserves the very best man available, and intends to be ruthlessly choosy in selecting the lucky fellow!

[RoseOfTheDawn]

I can't imagine caring about a man who was stupid. If a man doesn't read, he can't be very clever!

@Rose
You are dismissing a very large % of the human race there, personally I care about a lot of people (men & women) who have no interest whatsoever in books or reading but they have other interests, skills & expertiese of which I am totally ignorant.
IMO not being a reader of itself does not make a person stupid nor does being a reader of itself make a person clever, intelligent or smart.

Right on, Fran. Ive posted on here my wives only read cookbooks and cheap trashy mush books, but that didnt make them any less of a person.

Possibly Rose is sure that she deserves the very best man available, and intends to be ruthlessly choosy in selecting the lucky fellow!

That would have sounded impossibly arrogant if I had said it! You sound almost as perceptive as my father.

[Carla Hurst-Chandler]

I can't imagine caring about a man who was stupid. If a man doesn't read, he can't be very clever!

@Rose
You are dismissing a very large % of the human race there, personally I care about a lot of people (men & women) who have no interest whatsoever in books or reading but they have other interests, skills & expertiese of which I am totally ignorant.
IMO not being a reader of itself does not make a person stupid nor does being a reader of itself make a person clever, intelligent or smart.

Right on, Fran. Ive posted on here my wives only read cookbooks and cheap trashy mush books, but that didnt make them any less of a person.

Possibly Rose is sure that she deserves the very best man available, and intends to be ruthlessly choosy in selecting the lucky fellow!

That would have sounded impossibly arrogant if I had said it! You sound almost as perceptive as my father.

~laughing~ We're checking into the sarcasm factor...

[ahujon]

Hi. I'm ahujon and I just joined. This is my first post and I hope you wont mind if I join in the fray. Readers share
a passion for books and ideas. We also share other things, to a more or lesser degree. I've never felt victimized by
it, but ostracism, either actively or inadvertently by others not sharing our demographic can happen from time to time.
It's uncomfortable and unnecessary. When I first read the poster's answer to this question, I was surprised. She did
more than say no, she registered her contempt for non-readers by calling them "stupid." A bravura performance.
Consider the value of the two positions: I hate non-readers because they don't read And non-readers hate me, because I read. They're worth the same individually as they are in tandem: O.

[jennifersmith326]

My husband does not like me to read when he is around. I think he is jealous of my ereader. LOL

[becky119]

Reading for me is a hobby that I love to endulge. Not everyone has a passion for reading nor the patience. For me, I truly enjoy getting lost in the pages of a good book. You could also expand the question forward to apply to readers: Could I date someone who did not enjoy the same books as I do?

Hopefully a reader and non reader can exist in this world and perhaps the reader, being excited about a wonderful book can turn a non reader onto something new.

I have been with my boyfriend Adam for almost six years now and when I found out that he doesn't read for pleasure I didn't know what to do. Could I really consider being with someone who didn't care at all about reading? My biggest passion?

Turns out that Adam was never exposed to the right books. While he is not a reader like I am, he has read more books since dating me than ever before in his life. First we started by reading books together aloud. I started with something simple but entertaining--The Harry Potter Series. He was relunctant at first, but eventually got into it. Once E-books became popular, he would put some on his iphone to read when he had downtime at work. Whenever we go on road trips, be it several hours away to visit his parents in MA or only an hour or so to attend a concert a book comes with us.

Adam still does not go out of his way to read like I do, but sometimes it is nice having a balance in our relationship. He will watch Top Gear (the British version) and I will sit next to him immersed in the latest novel that struck my fancy. It is a win-win for us, I get to read and he gets to watch a show I'm not a fan of but we get to be together. <3

[nana2002]

It doesn't matter as long as they don't have a problem with me reading

[DustyDiamond23]

I do...I'm marrying him too!

I would of course love it if he had the same level of interest in reading that I do but I don't find that I'm missing out on anything with it. When I read something that I find thought provoking I chat at him until he responds with more than a grunt....a "yeah. Mhmm. Really?" is sufficent!

Some books he has practically read with me because I have talked about it so much that he has learnt the plot!! I find it works well either way because he has learnt that reading is an important part of my life and he feigns interest when neccessary and leaves me to read when I'm engrossed. A deal I am not going to grumble at!!!!

Not every man has passions for books but so long as he has passion somewhere else that's fine!

[becky119]

I do...I'm marrying him too!

I would of course love it if he had the same level of interest in reading that I do but I don't find that I'm missing out on anything with it. When I read something that I find thought provoking I chat at him until he responds with more than a grunt....a "yeah. Mhmm. Really?" is sufficent!

Some books he has practically read with me because I have talked about it so much that he has learnt the plot!! I find it works well either way because he has learnt that reading is an important part of my life and he feigns interest when neccessary and leaves me to read when I'm engrossed. A deal I am not going to grumble at!!!!

Not every man has passions for books but so long as he has passion somewhere else that's fine!

I do the same thing with my boyfriend. It is great to be able to talk with someone about books without fear of giving away the ending, a problem whenever I like a book that I think my parents or friends would like. Adam doesn't care about the books but lets me complain about characters making me angry and surprises that I run into. Sometimes it is nice that he isn't an avid reader.

[Fundoospot]

Yes

[ctseattlewa]

My boyfriend doesn't like to read. It's fine. Everyone has different passions. Mine is reading. His is sports. I have no problems with it.

[jadestar31]

Honestly, I find it strange that people will limit their dating pool by not dating people who don't read. I am an avid reader but I've dated people that barely ever read. I don't enjoy eating or food in general, does that mean I can't date a guy who does? I guess I'll be single forever!

[Elainegr9]

My husband loves to read but he doesn't read book like me. He is big on reading about sports, newspaper, and blogs. Does that count? Since I have been with him for 14 years I seen him read one book. He just doesn't have the time with working alot of hours. Now, since he works alot of hours I take care of the kids and when they sleep it is on with me and my book.