Can you judge people on the books they read?

GotThatSwing · Post by **GotThatSwing** » 30 Nov 2010, 21:09

My friend asked me this question lately. What do you think?

StephenKingman · Post by **StephenKingman** » 01 Dec 2010, 11:28

A tough one, i would like to say i dont make any judgments based on reading material but if someone was just reading wrestling books, or comics, and nothing else, then i would probably think that a little narrow minded and unadventurous, but then again any reading is good so there is a good side to that, too, but personally i love to mix my main horror books with some non-fiction, thriller, action, drama etc to open up my mind to different people, places and scenarios, plus a good change is refreshing.

GotThatSwing · Post by **GotThatSwing** » 01 Dec 2010, 12:18

I also think it's not right to judge people on this basis because it's a matter of taste and doesn't mean the person isn't worth knowing. I always thought the people sitting in comics section of the bookstore must be weird, but then I met a girl who is really into manga and we get on really well. So, you never know.

Though wresling books sound a bit awful

Tip the Bottle · Post by **Tip the Bottle** » 01 Dec 2010, 16:07

Would you think less of Steven Hawking if you found out as a hobby he loved to read wrestling books or would you have more respect for Adolf Hitler if you knew he read the collected works of Dickens? I think the books we read do have some reflection of the people we are but that reflection alone is an impractical one and to truly know someone more than a hobby is needed as a guide.

I've know so many people that on the outside you would think are murderous heathens but once you made an effort to know that person it was almost laughable to think of them as violent. I've also known little shits that were so good at putting up front and acting so sweet that Jesus would have drank a beer with them only to find himself nailed to a cross the next day.

It's nearly impossible to judge someone just from one snapshot of their being. That's why I just dislike everyone, it's easier.

Aspasia · Post by **Aspasia** » 01 Dec 2010, 23:35

I try not to make judgments, but if I saw someone reading someone like Ann Coulter I probably couldn't help myself.

Ampharos · Post by **Ampharos** » 02 Dec 2010, 00:57

Aspasia wrote:I try not to make judgments, but if I saw someone reading someone like Ann Coulter I probably couldn't help myself.

I used to feel the same way, but I occasionally read books that are written by people who hold opinions that counter my own. I like to make sure that my perceptions of these authors' beliefs are accurate, and I also like to have my own beliefs challenged. In the not-too-distant future, I plan to read The Rules by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, even though I'm fairly certain that I'm going to disagree with many of their husband-snaring tactics.

To answer the original question, I don't think I can judge someone solely on what they were reading, unless I somehow knew their motives for reading the book.

Aspasia · Post by **Aspasia** » 02 Dec 2010, 01:05

Ampharos wrote:
Aspasia wrote:I try not to make judgments, but if I saw someone reading someone like Ann Coulter I probably couldn't help myself.
I used to feel the same way, but I occasionally read books that are written by people who hold opinions that counter my own. I like to make sure that my perceptions of these authors' beliefs are accurate, and I also like to have my own beliefs challenged. In the not-too-distant future, I plan to read The Rules by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, even though I'm fairly certain that I'm going to disagree with many of their husband-snaring tactics.

To answer the original question, I don't think I can judge someone solely on what they were reading, unless I somehow knew their motives for reading the book.

Yes, I do the same thing with books on religion, which is why I say I would be hesitant to judge. It's been my experience though that such people are a rarity. If I knew the person or even kind of knew them, I would withhold judgment. If it was just a stranger on the street though I would have no problem passing judgment and then forgetting about it 5 minutes later.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 02 Dec 2010, 05:12

Personally I would hate anyone to have an opinion of me based purely on my reading interests .... my reading is very eclectic so I reckon they would probably view me as schizophrenia & probably borderline deranged.

That said there is nothing I love more than a good rummage through other peoples book shelves & I'm regularly surprised at what I find.

I have a friend whose elderly mother was importing horror books & murder mysteries long before anyone thought of Amazon because she couldn't get sufficiently terrifying books in Ireland! She was a lovely gracious lady who wouldn't hurt a fly. Based on her reading material her son felt she would have been locked up as a dangerous sycopath.

StephenKingman · Post by **StephenKingman** » 02 Dec 2010, 12:00

Tip the Bottle wrote:Would you think less of Steven Hawking if you found out as a hobby he loved to read wrestling books or would you have more respect for Adolf Hitler if you knew he read the collected works of Dickens? I think the books we read do have some reflection of the people we are but that reflection alone is an impractical one and to truly know someone more than a hobby is needed as a guide.

No, i wouldnt think less of them as people, i would probably feel that their reading material is a little limited but that is no reflection on them as people because as you say its impossible to judge someone from their reading material. I may (rightly or wrongly) judge a persons reading collection as limited, bizarre etc but that is very different from saying that i think "Person X reads comics, therefore i think he is slow and stupid".

laci_baby · Post by **laci_baby** » 02 Dec 2010, 15:43

Actually.. it may be very wrong of me, and i try not to judge people, but sometimes i can't help but to do it. If i see someone sitting on a bench reading Gossip Girl then i'm going to think "brainless jezabel."
If i see someone sitting on a bench reading A Clockwork Orange without any confusion and they have that drawn in look on their face then i'm going to think "that is the smartest man in the world if he can debunk that slander."
But truly i doubt you'll ever see a genius read Gossip Girl nor an idiot actually reading Clockwork Orange. It just doesnt work. It may be wrong, i admit, but sadly you can't tell your brain to not think such things. I'm a horrible person... i know.

Mairin · Post by **Mairin** » 02 Dec 2010, 16:38

I know you shouldn't, but I do.

Carl2norberg · Post by **Carl2norberg** » 03 Dec 2010, 01:41

Yes of course. One can be judged on the type of books he/she reads.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 03 Dec 2010, 05:08

laci_baby wrote:Actually.. it may be very wrong of me, and i try not to judge people, but sometimes i can't help but to do it. If i see someone sitting on a bench reading Gossip Girl then i'm going to think "brainless jezabel."
If i see someone sitting on a bench reading A Clockwork Orange without any confusion and they have that drawn in look on their face then i'm going to think "that is the smartest man in the world if he can debunk that slander."
But truly i doubt you'll ever see a genius read Gossip Girl nor an idiot actually reading Clockwork Orange. It just doesnt work. It may be wrong, i admit, but sadly you can't tell your brain to not think such things. I'm a horrible person... i know.

Oh dear, oh dear I'm in trouble ... you'd likely find me on the beach with 'Hello' or some other gossipy drivel - I wouldn't want to get sand on my 'good' reads! Just imagine what people must think of me

GotThatSwing · Post by **GotThatSwing** » 03 Dec 2010, 09:31

laci_baby wrote: But truly i doubt you'll ever see a genius read Gossip Girl nor an idiot actually reading Clockwork Orange. It just doesnt work. It may be wrong, i admit, but sadly you can't tell your brain to not think such things. I'm a horrible person... i know.

I think first option is more probable. I guess people read chick lits to realx? (Becuase Gossip Girl is a chick lit, right?) I wouldn't assume someone is stupid for that reason. The other way round probably yes, I would think that a person reading serious book probably is smart.

Aspasia · Post by **Aspasia** » 03 Dec 2010, 11:27

GotThatSwing wrote:
laci_baby wrote: But truly i doubt you'll ever see a genius read Gossip Girl nor an idiot actually reading Clockwork Orange. It just doesnt work. It may be wrong, i admit, but sadly you can't tell your brain to not think such things. I'm a horrible person... i know.
I think first option is more probable. I guess people read chick lits to realx? (Becuase Gossip Girl is a chick lit, right?) I wouldn't assume someone is stupid for that reason. The other way round probably yes, I would think that a person reading serious book probably is smart.

Yeah I agree with that.

I have read some chick lit before...but at the same time, I am somewhat ashamed and try to do it in the house for that reason