A third of British adults have lied about reading a book to appear more intelligent according to a new survey.
A cunning 33 per cent of adults have confessed to reading challenging literature to appear well-read, when in fact they haven’t a clue what the book is about.
But 40 per cent of people said they lied about reading certain books just so they could join in with conversation.
One in ten men said they would fib about reading a certain book to impress the opposite sex according to the poll of over 4000 bookworms conducted by the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council (MLA).
Most people expand on their literary repertoire to impress a new date, 15 per cent have lied about the books they have read to a new colleague and five per cent have told porkies about their reading habits to their employer.
The younger generation is out to impress the most – with more than half of 19 – 21 year olds expanding the truth about the books they read.
But they are also most likely to get caught out – with one in ten 19 – 21 year olds tripping up when quizzed about a book they lied about reading.
But the book we all lie about reading is the bestselling Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien.
The epic trilogy took 11 years to complete and 14 per cent of those who started the book with good intentions never managed to finish it.
John Dolan, Head of Library Policy at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council said: ”It’s fascinating to see that so many people are trying to impress others with the books they haven’t actually read.
Top ten books we lie about reading
1. The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R Tolkien
2. War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
3. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
4. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus – John Gray
5. 1984 – George Orwell
6. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone – J.K Rowling
7. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
8. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
9. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
10. Diary of Anne Frank – Anne Frank
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