Could you date someone who doesn't read?

[Danna Vergara]

Of course, my partner only reads mangas and we enjoy time together.

[Kristine Mariel Diaz]

When I first started dating my husband, he didn't like to read anything.
But over time, watching me read and always listening to the stories of my books, he got curious and started looking for books to read on his own.
Now he reads one book a month, but he has a very specific taste, he only likes books about terror, suspense and neuroscience for some reason.

[General-Choe-Young]

The instinctual, lizard-like response is to say, "Of course not!" but the slightly more mannered and sophisticated portion of my brain (which is not very big) begs me to consider the nuances. Plenty of people find it very difficult to read, but are kind and compassionate, which are in short supply. Plenty of people read voraciously, but lack those things. And people fall in every spectrum in between. The attractiveness of another whole person occupies far more categories than a single habit or hobby they have, and no human can be the arbiter of romance.
I used to value intelligence and academia as the only worthwhile factor in someone's likeability. It's really, really, not. I learned almost too late that empathy, compassion, and open-mindedness are paramount.

The question is, then, not whether I can date someone who doesn't read. Of course I could. The question is whether they possess the traits that truly matter.

[Nenye Charles]

Well, reading books help one sharpen their minds and intellect. Actually, I can data someone who doesn’t read. The person doesn’t necessarily have to read. One can also listen to audiobooks, even if they don’t like reading physical or ebooks. This is my personal opinion on this.

[BookAddikt]

All my ex's have been gamers lol!! Although one of them has read a non-fiction book which involves war stories. He particularly liked war stories

[D E 2]

Yes, if that person is kind responsible why not.

[Okewunmi Pelumi]

Yes, sure, I can date such a person; in fact, I can marry such an individual. As a man, I wouldn't mind if my partner doesn't read, because sometimes women can become engrossed in things that might distract them from their essential responsibilities. However, as long as she can communicate confidently without experiencing agoraphobia, she's more than suitable. I desire a partner who is articulate and can handle public matters and engage with humanity effectively.

[Nele Ma]

I doubt it. Without those shared interests, I think it might be very challenging to build a strong connection. Also, I would find it challenging to live with someone whose book preferences are vastly different from mine.

[litcat]

I can find it hard to connect with them - the same as dating someone who reads excruciatingly slowly. I dated someone who didn't really read but knew I loved it so they gave it a shot. I gave them a whole list of my favourite books and they took over a month to read the first chapter of one of them. It felt a little disappointing to be honest.

Sort of that feeling that if you don't understand/get a book that is very close to my heart, then you don't really understand/get me.

[Shneka Karthick]

Definitely, could marry someone who doesn’t read. Though I would like my partner to have something in his life that is as dear to him as reading is to me! So he could understand that reading is always going to be a big part of my life as his something will be of his life!

[Cr15tal Gray]

I am in a relationship with someone that doesn't read. We both have have different hobbies and it just gives us space to indulge in them and away from each other for a bit. We both bring something different to the table for our son to learn and understand.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

I have been married to a man going on 43 years, and he doesn't read books, newspapers, articles, anything. That part of our lives is separate. I could sit there reading for hours and he justs either watches TV, another room, or plays games on his phone. If I want to discuss a book, I do it with my friends who are all readers or OBC.

[Jenni Schmitt]

I married someone who didn't read. I've been happily divorced from him for 15 years. I had another relationship- about the same length- with someone who did read. It was a much better relationship. Sometimes I miss being in a relationship with someone who reads.

[langjoseph]

I believe reading edifies the mind. Also, a person who reads is creative and can think critically. Dating a person who does not read to me means getting involved with a person with narrow thinking. Additionally, a person who does not read hardly has proper diction or choice of words. You can never run out of things to discuss with a person who is a book worm. All in all, i would be bored to death dating someone who does not read. I don't think i would be able to last long with such a person.

[elidrissi30]

I think if you said: dating an ignorant person is better, there may be people who do not read books but have a high sense of humanity who read hundreds of books.