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Bookworm Stereotypes

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“Oh this? It’s a ‘bookworm.’
They live in books, and they love to eat important or valuable words.”
― CLAMP, xxxHolic, Vol. 7

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1. Readers are intelligent
 Readers are leaders. How many times have you heard this? Personally, I read a lot science fiction and fantasy…even nonfiction sometimes. I don’t think it makes me terribly clever. No, not really & definitely not intelligent enough to be a leader. Unless we’re planning to overthrow the Capitol. Then I’m your person.
2. Readers always wear glasses
Bookish characters portrayed in the media ALWAYS often wear glasses. Yes, I’ve heard that reading in bad light might damage your eyes and you might need glasses or it might be in your genes. Personally, I don’t wear glasses.
3. Readers are all a bit ugly and a bit overweight and a bit goofy and there must be something wrong with them
OR
female readers must all look like sexy librarians
Is there a middle ground here?

“I grabbed my book and opened it up. I wanted to smell it. Heck, I wanted to kiss it. Yes, kiss it. That’s right, I am a book kisser. Maybe that’s kind of perverted or maybe it’s just romantic and highly intelligent.”
― Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

4. Readers are geeks/nerds
Yes I guess. However, nerd is the new black.
5. Readers must have a bookish profession
Author, librarian, literary agent, book blogger … you name it. I think you’re lucky if you have a job you like doing. Personally, I’m in event industry. Also people seem to think that while they’re doing something with their lives: go to gym, eat, sleep. Readers just…read.
6. Readers are antisocial, shy and introverts
I never considered myself shy but I tire of people easily. Often, I get so disappointed with people that I don’t want to socialize with anyone new.

“Books were safer than other people anyway.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane

7. Readers hate the outdoors
I mean…you could get an oxygen poisoning, some insect could bite you or you could get sunburn. Really. Anything could happen. Not like reading outside is an option. Or doing something other than reading in general.
8. Readers are socially awkward
Readers don’t know how to act normal. And how to make small talk. Not like reading helps with socializing and with knowing more of various topics.
9. Readers are dreamers
I think most of us are. Though it doesn’t mean that we have our head in the clouds. Or that we’d rather live in fictional worlds. Okay, I take that back…Take me to Narnia!


“I took my time, running my fingers along the spines of books, stopping to pull a title from the shelf and inspect it. A sense of well-being flowed through me as I circled the ground floor. It was better than meditation or a new pair of shoes- or even chocolate. My life was a disaster, but there were still books. Lots and lots of books. A refuge. A solace. Each one offering the possibility of a new beginning.”
― Beth Pattillo, Jane Austen Ruined My Life


10. Readers are typically used to process bank checks
Well…That’s what Google suggested when I wrote “readers are” in the search box. Blame Page & Brin.

Hope you enjoyed reading this.
What bookworm stereotypes have you encountered?

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35 thoughts on “Bookworm Stereotypes”

  2. Ah yes :D Well… I love the outdoors, I’m not antisocial, I don’t wear glasses and I don’t have a bookish profession (yet :P) So… I guess I don’t classify as a reader if we go by stereotypes :D :D

    1. :D Yeah stereotypes get it very often wrong. Hope you find a bookish profession! Or it would be my dream at least to have a job that has something to do with books! :)

  4. Ah yes :D Well… I love the outdoors, I’m not antisocial, I don’t wear glasses and I don’t have a bookish profession (yet :P) So… I guess I don’t classify as a reader if we go by stereotypes :D :D

  5. I *happen* to fit *some* of these stereotypes (glasses, bookish profession), but TOTALLY AGREE that so many people have skewed perceptions/stereotypes of readers. Anyone who likes to read is a reader in my book ;)

  6. I *happen* to fit *some* of these stereotypes (glasses, bookish profession), but TOTALLY AGREE that so many people have skewed perceptions/stereotypes of readers. Anyone who likes to read is a reader in my book ;)

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