One in four adults admits: 'I haven't read a book for a year'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A quarter of Britons say they have not read a book in the past year and nearly half admit to lying about their reading to appear more intelligent.

Ministers published the findings as they urged bosses to set up libraries in former workplace smoking rooms to transform employees' reading habits.

Launching the National Year of Reading campaign, they said research showed nearly half of adults had read at least five books in the previous 12 months.

Yet a quarter had not read a single book during the same period, including almost half of males aged between 16 and 24, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

A separate survey had shown a third of Britons read "challenging literature" in order to seem well-read even though they could not follow what the book was about.

It also found that 40 per cent had lied about having read certain books "just so they could join in with the conversation".

Around half of 4,000 adults who responded to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council poll said reading classics makes you look more intelligent.

The Government campaign aims to target reluctant readers, particular boys and their fathers.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls added that more time would be set aside in the primary school day for reading as part of a review of the curriculum.

Parents are also being urged to spend at least ten minutes a day reading with their children.

At a Downing Street seminar to launch the National Year of Reading, the Prime Minister said the drive could prove one of the Government's most effective social policies.

"It's not just the joy of reading, father-to-son or in the classroom," said Mr Brown.

"It's also the benefits of reading. It's probably one of the best anti-poverty, antideprivation, anti-crime, anti-vandalism policies you can think of."