You Are What You Read

It doesn’t matter what book genre you prefer the most. Be it fiction, non-fiction, biographies, the classics, fantasy or history, etc., your choice of books, believe it or not, are a reflection of who you really are.

For example, those who love bestsellers tend to be up-to-date and in the know, while lovers of biographies and historical books are trivia junkies or wistful individuals looking to escape to a bygone era.

A person with a book shelf full of cook books will tend to be food lovers, while fans of fiction are an insightful bunch who are open to the opinions of others.

You may also be the type that reads all kinds of genres, but there is no doubt you prefer some over the others. It is these preferences that betray your personality.

Of course there are times when you don’t choose a book on your own, but rather a friend or family members recommended it. According to the PEW Research Center, family and friends are the primary source of book recommendations for Americans 16 and older. Other sources of recommendations, according to the study, are from bookstores and librarians.

Nevertheless, you only read what you want to read. If a friend recommends a book on finance, but you don’t care much about the topic, it is doubtful you’d even touch the book with a ten-foot pole. It is also a sign that you are not good with numbers.

There are also instances when a genre’s popularity dictates what you might read. Teens, for example, are more into “dystopias and steampunk” these days, according to Sarah Flowers, president of the Young Adult Library Services. Hunger Games come to mind.

Even the medium with which you consume the written word says a lot about you. Those who read more with e-books tend to be more technologically savvy than traditional book readers. Though this can also be attributed to the availability of e-content for younger audiences, according to the PEW study.

Additionally, the study shows that most e-book readers are aged 30 and below, with 40% of respondents saying they do so compared to just 28% for those above 30 years of age.

It really doesn’t matter what genre you read, or whether you prefer e-books over traditional books. Though to be honest, there is a certain charm and sense of involvement with traditional books that is sorely lacking in e-books.

Younger people should learn to read traditional books more to discover for themselves the magic of paper and ink. Pixels and light are not enough.

For those looking to find books on their favorite genre, the best place to find them is at the Book Rack in Arcadia. The store is a treasure trove of books, be it popular or obscure. If you don’t find what you are looking for at the Book Rack, let them know and they will find it for you.

The Book Rack is located at 204 S. First Ave., Arcadia. To find out more about the Book Rack, visit http://bookrackarcadia.com or call (626) 446-2525. You can also email at bookrackarc@sbcglobal.net.