In the United States, the gender gap also extends to reading.

Men are more likely to read nonfiction than fiction, while the opposite is true for women, according to a study carried out by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The study showed that in 2012, 55% of women read fiction and 48% read non-fiction. When it comes to men, the same study showed that only 33% of them read fiction and 36% read non-fiction.

A AEN 2017 survey also showed that 50% of women were likely to read novels or short stories, compared to 33% of men.

When it comes to reading books in general, even though the percentage of men who read books in the United States has increased in recent years, they still lag behind women. In 2021, Statist reported that 78% of women surveyed had read or listened to at least one book in the past month, compared to 73% of men surveyed, up from 67% in 2019.

TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager spoke with New York Times bestselling author Amor Towles about the differences in reading habits between men and women.

Towles attributed this to the fact that men are “no longer in the habit” of reading fiction, explaining: “We know statistically that men are less likely to read fiction over time, particularly after age 30, and I think it’s definitely a habit. »

“There is nothing in a novel that will not satisfy the interests of a male reader,” he said. “It’s just that they’re not used to it anymore and they don’t really know which novels to choose.”

Towles added that when men opt for nonfiction over fiction, it is often because they are able to “lean in” to the subject they choose to read about and “know what ‘they’re going to get’.

“Part of the challenge for anyone interested in fiction is asking yourself, ‘How do I find a book that will interest me?’ “, Towles said. “How can I find one that will satisfy me? »

Jenna spoke to several men who have historically opted for nonfiction books about why they typically move away from fiction, as well as the benefits that novels can provide.

Reading non-fiction as “mental training”

Jordan Thomas, a 31-year-old former professional baseball player from New Orleans, told Jenna that he started reading because he was “forced” to by his mother.

“It was one of those things growing up playing sports, my mom, she set this precedent where it was like, ‘Hey, so you can play your sport and get involved in anything extracurricular, your grades must be good,'” Thomas explained. “And part of that is reading, so she was really the catalyst.”

Thomas, who now prefers reading self-help books, said he prefers non-fiction to increase his intelligence.

“The reason I read now is because I feel like it’s a mental workout for me,” Thomas said. “It’s a way for me to like develop that intelligence, so that when I’m in my meetings and when I’m doing things from a business perspective, I’m sharp, I’m ready to go.”

Wanting to read something more “simple”

The differences between reading fiction and nonfiction may depend on how the material is digested and interpreted.

Arman Ramnath, an Ohio attorney who typically opts for political books and classic novels, shared, “I think with nonfiction, what’s presented, you can take it literally and you think about it a lot. »

“But with fiction, it’s a new way of interpreting things,” he explained. “It challenges your perception of the world and what’s around you. And I think sometimes that’s great and that’s why I like reading fiction, but you know, sometimes in the end it’s easier to like read something a little simpler.

Ramnath said that while there is “a lot of great nonfiction that really makes you think,” he said they are still its “fault” because “it seems a little easier.”

Justin Diamond, a 31-year-old real estate agent in New York, added that it’s easier to find nonfiction books to read. Diamond said he usually reads history books, but he’s trying to read more fiction, so he recently asked for recommendations on his Instagram Story.

He said he would be given a title and then he would have to do some research to understand the premise.

“Sometimes the two phrases don’t grab me, don’t hook me,” Diamond said. “And I trust the people I’m asking to speak, but it takes an extra step for me to get there and start reading this book.”

The benefits of reading fiction

Although many find entertainment and pleasure in reading, books can also have another use in their lives.

Towles emphasized the importance of reading novels, telling Jenna that when someone reads a book, they “become so connected to the life of the main character(s)” and can react in real time to what’s happening in the pages.

“You see that when someone is reading in your room, if something funny happens to the book, they burst out laughing,” he explained. “Or it might make them cry while they’re reading, because they’re so absorbed in the character’s emotional setback. And when the character wins a victory, he says: “Yes! »

Towles said that “the emotional connection to the characters and the novels is really unlike anything” in the arts.

“It’s a wonderful thing to go through this process because, we know very scientifically at this point, this is where we develop empathy,” he said. “It’s a very powerful way to develop empathy. We begin to see the world differently.

Towles said he often hears men say they prefer to read nonfiction because they will “learn something” through that genre. But he refuted that theory, telling Jenna that readers can also learn by reading literary fiction.

For men who find the barrier of entry into fiction difficult, Towles offered this advice.

“Go to your local independent bookstore, ask to speak to the person in charge of purchasing and say, ‘Look, this is what I liked,'” Towles said. “I read this by David McCullough. Which novel would I like? Which novelist, which novels would I like?