tech
Booksmaxxing: how reading became sexy
‘Reading is having a moment,’ according to Tinder. But do its users actually appreciate books, or just talk about them to get dates?
TL;DR
- Mentions of books in dating bios have increased significantly, with Tinder noting a 29% rise overall and 41% for women.
- 75% of people find partners who read or are well-read more attractive, according to Headway research.
- The BookTok community on TikTok drives engagement through book reviews and discussions.
- Book club participation has been rising, with a 41% increase in listings on Eventbrite in the UK between 2022 and 2023.
- Literary tourism is growing, with 55% of travellers considering or having booked holidays inspired by books.
- Booksmaxxing is occurring during a period of overall decline in pleasure reading, with a 40% drop in Americans reading for pleasure since 2003.
- The trend is described as a potentially performative exercise to appear intelligent and possessing an attention span.