TheBookSwarm
Ask Question

My husband claims that he hates reading and refuses to read anything. It makes me so sad!! Am I alone?

My husband claims that he hates reading and refuses to read anything. It makes me so sad!!

Am I alone?

Nancy #questionnaire

75
Reply

95 Answers

Asheleigh

My S.O claims he doesn’t mind reading occasionally however I’ve never seen it with my own eyes. Which makes me sad because I’ve purchased at least 4 books for him and the most he’s done is flip through a bit and put them on a self.

2
Reply
Farida

Thank God I’m free, single , and disengage

1
Reply
Shilpi

My hubby surprised me by saying that now he wants to start reading!!!! Am looking for options which once he reads he will continue forever

1
Reply
NancyQuestion author

I hope he finds something he loves.

1
Shilpi

Me too

1
Sarah

Start of with subjects he likes or has been curious about. Head to your local library (If doable, that is.)or used bookstore. Have patience with him and don’t push.

1
Shilpi

@Sarah… thanx for the advice..wl do just that

0
Vanessa

Mine has a bookshelf of books that he never reads. He says he doesn’t like reading however he has a shelf. It doesn’t make any sense.

4
Reply
Amy

My partner started reading after about 3 years of us being together. He doesn’t read very often and only reads sports biographies and history books but it’s still more than he ever did before he met me and it makes me deliriously happy.

3
Reply
Nasreen

Mine thinks he’s too cool to read ??

2
Reply
Stephen

Mine reads newspapers and magazines and journals but not books. After 20+ years, it’s not a problem for me.

1
Reply
Helen

My hubby says he doesn’t read but in fact he just doesn’t read books. He reads all the time, scientific articles, news, gadget news, lots of things. Besides the world would be terribly boring if we were all the same. I am sure your husband has hobbies that don’t interest you.

2
Reply
NancyQuestion author

Yes, he has other hobbies. I just wish he would give reading a try. I believe that we are all readers but the majority of the people have never found the book to spark their interest.

0
George

There is a certain intellectual patience that book reader have, in no trump (pun), and non-book-readers do not. In some cases, it’s a learned skill :):):)

1
Reply
Lina

I let my spouse be who he is. He’s not a big reader, and I’m okay with that.

4
Reply
Sihl

My hubby doesn’t like reading either. He will listen to audiobooks. But only autobiographies or historical things. No novels what so ever. Not even historical novels. And he listens to a lot of sports podcast or something. Don’t know what it is but it’s all sports stuff he listens to.

1
Reply
Amy

Sounds like mine. Sports, biographies and history only!!

0
Sihl

omg yes!!

0
Rebecca

Nope. My husband says he’s never been able to visualize anything he reads. He’s a totally movie buff.

1
Reply
NancyQuestion author

Mine says the same thing!

1
Rebecca

I feel too that he hasn’t given it a try in his adult life. This was based on his childhood.

0
Annie

I am the only reader in my family. Along with my friends and my boyfriend nobody reads but me.

1
Reply
Emily

My hubby is the same, but he has dyslexia

1
Reply
Melissa

Mine buys books and has about 20 to 30 but never reads. There are books there i bought him for his birthday last year that he hasnt even read yet and its his birthday again in ten more days. He says he likes to read but if he starts a book he has to finish it, he cant just start a book and read a chapter or two then put it down for a while. Is this a thing or?

1
Reply
Krista

Unless you count the stats that scroll across the bottom of ESPN as actually reading… then no, you are not alone. ???

1
Reply
Árni

He might be dyslexic without realizing it.

1
Reply
Priyanka

Am in the same boat with you

1
Reply
Lori

I love to read, my fiancée reads a bit here or there but not avidly. Does it make me sad? No. He has other interests, he has creative outlets and makes models of classic aircraft. That is not something that I would find interesting to do but I admire that he enjoys and is good at it. Each person has their special outlets 🙂

1
Reply
Vishnupriya

My other half is totally an online buff, his interest is more into visual media. I have accepted and respect him as who he is.

1
Reply
Jenell

Mine is the same way

1
Reply
Annette

That is sad. People who don’t read MISS So Much!

1
Reply
Елена

Both my brother and his fiancé don’t pick up books at all – the books they have just lay there gathering dust, which makes me very, very sad. I am very tempted to rescue these books and take them to a better place, but can’t. 🙁

Those that do not like reading most likely have not reading the right book. There is always something for somebody!

1
Reply
NancyQuestion author

I agree! I believe that if my hubby finds a great book that he will enjoy he would be hooked.

0
Andrea

Me alone too my dear.

1
Reply
Alex

Mine only reads the sport part of the papers but he dose buy me books so ill let him off ?

2
Reply
Christina

My husband finds it boring but doesn’t care that I read

1
Reply
Louise

Grounds for divorce …. ?

2
Reply
NancyQuestion author

I would like to add that he does in fact read to our children which is huge! He often reads at bedtime and I love it. And of course I love him for who he is. We are all different and enjoy different hobbies. It just makes me sad because the school system made him hate reading (among other things). He was put down by a lot of teachers and it affected his performance at school. He basically gave up trying to learn and do school work because of it. He is very bright but he truly believed otherwise. Of course that is no longer the case though. I praise him so much for his intellegence. I just believe that if he found the right book and the right encouragement he wouldn’t hate reading now.

0
Reply
Renee

Divorced now, but my ex also did not read. Very annoying when you have just read a good book and would love to share that.

2
Reply
NancyQuestion author

It would be nice to read a book together and get lost in it together. I do talk to him about all the books I read and he pays attention to me and gets excited about it so that’s a huge plus. He is constantly on the lookout for new books for me to read too.

0
Renee

You are so lucky!

1
NancyQuestion author

I agree. I shouldn’t and wasn’t trying to complain on my post it just makes me sad how he got to the “I hate reading”.

0
Renee

I must say being single gives me a lot of reading time in peace and quiet. I sometimes read until 2 – 3 o clock in the morning. Even on the beach I just love to lie in the sun and read my book

1
NancyQuestion author

That’s great! I often read until 3am also. I shouldn’t do it much but can’t help it. Haha. Reading on the beach sounds amazing!

0
Renee

I am lucky. I stay in Durban South Africa. The kids love going to the beach. So my book always in the bag. I must be boring, but the books are so good.

0
NancyQuestion author

That’a awesome! You are not boring at all. Books are the opposite of boring.

0
Renee

I know! My biggest fear is going blind!!!

0
NancyQuestion author

Oh no! Do you have sight issues?

0
Renee

Yes. Wish I could win the lotto so I can have my eyes fixed by laser. But I am changing my medical aid so hopefully I would be able to do it in a years time.

0
NancyQuestion author

I’m sorry hon! I really hope you are able to get it fixed soon ♡

0
Renee

Thanx have a lovely day!

1
NancyQuestion author

You too!

0
Judy

No you are not alone!

1
Reply
Leslie

Find a topic that they love – even if it’s just a hardware manual and start there. Then get into the history of that certain thing they love by very gently saying did you know ” x was invented by … back in ..” drop the book near a favorite spot and walk away. Say no more! Eventually curiousity WILL take over!

1
Reply
Julie

We’re here.

1
Reply
Xochitl

Same here but I love him and we have other things in common. He does support my love for books. He likes to fish and I dont. We compromise. The lake is my favorite place to read.

2
Reply
Lynn

And you married him anyway??? 🙂

1
Reply
Connie

sometimes being different is a good thing at least you can not argue about something you both are very passionate about …and emotions can heat up if you disagree 😉 you got us and I am sure many friends who love books to talk about books and books and sometimes about books 😀

1
Reply
JwSierra

No my husband hates to read too

1
Reply
Shana

Nope mine says its like being a kid and having to it makes him tired. Although i did get him to let me read aloud to him from my tales of beedle the bard by j.k. rowling

2
Reply
Amy

My husband loves to read. And we met because we are both science fiction and fantasy fans. I’m sorry your husband hates reading. 🙁

2
Reply
Deborah

Nope mine too but it works. He always listens when I tell him about a book I’m reading or share interesting things I’m learning.

2
Reply
NancyQuestion author

Mine too!

0
Bethany

Same! My husband hates reading

1
Reply
Vijaya

I have a lot of friends who would rather watch soap operas than read. When I recommend a book the response is no time to read. I cannot go to bed without reading at least ten pages.

3
Reply
Sihl

I would turn on the tv when in eating lunch at home. When I see soap operas I wonder what in the world possessed me to watch them when I was younger. I turn the tv off and read while I’m eating. Same here. Even if I’m so tires I still have to read a few pages to feel good and then go to sleep.

1
Sara

My hubby is the same 🙁

1
Reply
Ashley

Mine prefers video games. His loss. On the plus side his nerd time gives me lots of reading time of my own ❤

2
Reply
Laurie

My hubby is a librarian & we read together everyday ??

0
Reply
Jacqueline

Divorce.

0
Reply
Mary

My prefers to watch television. That means I get to buy books and he can’t say anything . Reading and bingo are my two favorite hobbies.

1
Reply
Jeni

Love bingo, too!!

0
Georgiana

I think he is alone..not you! 😉 ??

0
Reply
Jeni

My husband doesn’t like to read either. He says it puts him to sleep. He spends time on Craigslist drooling over old cars and tools he’d like to buy. I do wish he enjoyed reading, but everyone is different.

1
Reply
Laura

My hubby also.

0
Reply
Rosa

No your not…I use to hate reading but until I found the book that really got me, I can’t stop buying books and reading. ?

0
Reply
Rosa

Image may contain: one or more people and text
5
Reply
Kathi

I agree, you have to find the book that triggers it all…it becomes a cascade. My sister was a school librarian, and books such as the “Percy Jackson” series, or the “Captain Underpants” series made readers out of kids who hated books. Now they can’t get enough! What is your husband really interested in? Say it’s football…get a book about a coach or a player that might intrigue him, and then casually let drop, “Oh, I read this about such-and-such”. Do this a few times, and then leave the book around. Or maybe he likes beer…there are all kinds of neat books about beer, its history, its role in cultures around the world…don’t push, just mention, and then leave the book where he can find it.

1
Reply
Sandra

My ex husband was the same way .. hated reading .. but believe it or not he read the amityville horror whilst we were still married , I was amazed! But he admitted to liking the book!!!

0
Reply
Carli

Mine too. He claims he doesn’t like it either

0
Reply
Gina

Years after we’d been married I discovered my husband’s dislike of reading was actually that he had dyslexia. He was always incredibly supportive of my reading though. He bought his first kindle when he discovered that it had text to speech and he could listen as he read. He reads almost more than I do now!

6
Reply
Amy

That’s wonderful. And dyslexia is often a reason people don’t read.

0
Jenn

Mine only reads on the toilet, but at least hes reading a bit!!

2
Reply
Kimberly

Amen! That’s where mine does most if his reading as well. We jokingly refer to the bathroom as “the library.”

0
Connie

No, not at all. My husband doesn’t either. Sad huh?

0
Reply
Siri

My husband too!???

0
Reply
Julie

My business partner’s ex-wife hated reading, told him it was a waste of time.

1
Reply
Judy

Unfortunately my husband doesn’t enjoy reading either. I’ve encouraged him but he just isn’t interested. Yeah I know- sad!!!!

0
Reply
Päivi

That’s a terrible thing to say, books belong to the life 😉

0
Reply
Kimberly

My husband was not much of a reader when we first got together. He rarely read at all. My love of reading eventually sparked an interest in finding something for himself and he reads regularly now. On our last anniversary we had planned dinner and a movie. Half way through our meal he asked ” Let’s skip the movie and just go to the bookstore instead?”.

5
Reply
Julie

sounds like you have a great husband, my boyfriend did that a couple of times, we are still together.

1
Kimberly

Thank you! He’s a keeper!

1
Patricia

You taught him well!

0
Daphne

Not at all. It’s very tough. My husband battled with language all his school career and was ridiculed and told he was stupid. He has subsequently such a phobia about language. He is incredibly practical and bright actually. Being a teacher myself, I an astounded that his teachers never picked up his phonetic problem ( he has visual discrimination issues when it comes to sounds)
I have encouraged him and started by leaving a magazine about farming lying around. (We are farmers). Slowly but surely his confidence growing. But still very negative about my constant reading and piles of books.

1
Reply
Michelle

My Philosophy is that people who say that simple hasn’t found the right book yet. Many people, I believe, have their first reading experience ruined, because it is usually a book that their school forces them to read. The whole reading experience therefor becomes tainted by that and is being associated with someone being forced upon them and something boring.
I will say however that you do need another sort of temperament to read a book than to watch a movie. When I had a long break from my books, it was hard for me to get back into, bevause my patience had become so small. I had to train myself to read again and slowly built it up over time.

0
Reply
Leave a Answer Cancel

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Loading Please wait
Log in
Register
Categories
  • get the book
  • questionnaire
  • recommend
  • review
Genres
animal art biography business chick lit classics comics contemporary cookbooks crime detective fantasy fiction gay and lesbian graphic novel historical fiction history horror humor and comedy kids languages manga memoir music mystery nonfiction novel paranormal philosophy poetry psychology religies religion romance scary science science fiction self help spirituality sports suspense thriller travel young adult young adults
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

2019 © TheBookSwarm