We’ve all read a Penguin book at some point in our lives, whether a ladybird book or a good old Penguin Classic. As one of the world’s biggest publishers, it’s no surprise that Penguin Random House (opens in new tab) knows a thing or two about books.
We all know the age-old saying that a picture speaks a thousand words. But now the popular publisher has suggested that your book (opens in new tab) collection could in fact speak volumes.
Whilst some can’t wait to visit their local bookshop (opens in new tab) and choose the next read, others can’t bear to part with much-loved titles.
But which category do you fall into?
Those with 0-5 books
Penguin suggests that people who only own between 0-5 books are Book Monks. They’re selective and very decluttered readers. They might have a cookbook ready to grab in their kitchen or a stunning coffee table book on display in your lounge. But above all, you’re focused on having a functional and calm living space.
Those with 5-50 books
This might be quite a step up, but that doesn’t mean people with 5-50 books enjoy having their space cluttered with all their past reads much more than those with 0-5. Books are the perfect way to absorb knowledge and that is what these book collectors seek. They might well keep certain old favourites, but otherwise their newest titles will be kept on e-readers, audiobooks or on phones.
Those with exactly 42 books
Readers who have a very exact number of books are very disciplined - referred to as the Meaning of Lifers. The skill lies in knowing exactly which book you want to replace in your collection whenever a new one is introduced to the existing collection. Should you stick with what you love or branch out? In our experience making this decision is far easier said than done!
Those with 50-150 books
If you have between 50-150 books in your collection it’s clear that you’re used to having shelves of much-loved titles. The best of these will remain in your collection forever, though you aren’t too afraid of letting go of some books here and there as your collection evolves. Each of the books you do choose to keep shows some aspect of your personality.
Those with 150-500 books
Readers with this many books may well be unofficial librarians. You read extensively and you have enough of a collection to provide the answers to most questions you might be asked. These readers are deeply drawn to books in a way all those others won’t have experienced. The written word is essential to your everyday life and reading is your happy place.
Those with 500+ books
By the time you have a collection of over 500 books you know that your house has become your own library. Here the written word is law and you’re a true collector of all things literary. Each book reminds you of your personal journey through life. They show exactly what you’ve learned and still have yet to learn.
FAQs
If the life expectancy is 86 for females and 82 for males, and the proper reading age 25 years, Literary Hub notes that the average number of books read in a lifetime is 735 for females and 684 for males.
How many books are considered a home library? ›
Mr. Byers cited a common belief that 1,000 is the minimum in any self-respecting home library. Then he quickly divided that number in half. Five hundred books ensure that a room “will begin to feel like a library,” he said.
What is a good amount of books to read in a year? ›
The most obvious answer to “how many books should you read in a year” would be 12 since it's research-based. But who likes putting people in boxes? We don't! So we'll just say that you should read as many books in a year as you feel comfortable with.
How much does Penguin Random House charge to publish a book? ›
Want to be published by Penguin, the historic press which is home to authors including Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter and Kathryn Stockett? Now you can be – and for as little as $99 (£60), as Penguin's American arm announced a move into self-publishing.
Is reading 50 books a year a lot? ›
Avid readers are the type who can read roughly a book a week. It's easy to imagine these super readers as being speed readers. However, you can read 50 books per year even if you aren't particularly fast. It doesn't require a massive time commitment, either.
Is 100 books a year a lot? ›
Reading 100 books in a year is an accomplishment. For most people, it will stretch their horizons and stretch their brain to its limit. But it won't make you smarter unless what you read actually starts to impact the way that you live.
How many books does the average person read? ›
In the U.S., the average person reads about 14 books per year. That is pretty good considering that that is more than one book per month. The median average for the whole population is 4 books per year but to be honest, I don't know what that really entails.
How many books does the average household have? ›
— According to a survey carried out for World Book Day in 2015, the average home has 158 books. — A quarter of them, however, have never been opened. — Some 16% of people admitted to owning certain books purely to make themselves look more intelligent.
How many books should you have to be considered a library? ›
To be classified as a library, a room should contain at least five hundred books. Based on their findings, every school with 500 or more students has between 10,001 and 15,000 books in common stock. In smaller schools, a stock of textbooks ranges from 1,001 to 10,000.
How many books a year do millionaires read? ›
“Those who read seven or more books per year are more than 122 percent more likely to be millionaires as opposed to those who never read or only read one to three [books].” Take the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, who reads 50 books a year, or Warren Buffett, who spends as much as 80% of his day reading.
The average daily time spent reading by individuals in the United States in 2022 amounted to 0.26 hours, or 15.6 minutes. According to the study, adults over the age of 75 were the most avid readers, spending over 40 minutes reading each day.
Which country reads the most books per year? ›
Countries that Reads (And Buys) The Most Books
- United States – Apparently, the U.S. reads about 275,232 per year. ...
- China – The country reads 208,418 books on average per year, and this totals about 10% of all books bought.
- United Kingdom – This nation reads about 188,000 every year.
Historically, most major publishers, including Penguin Random House, have not accepted unagented submissions, in large part because an agent plays a critical role in serving your interests in the business relationship you will have with a publisher.
How much do Penguin authors make? ›
How does the salary as a Technical Author at Penguin Random House compare with the base salary range for this job? The average salary for a Technical Author is £37,649 per year in United Kingdom, which is 17% higher than the average Penguin Random House salary of £32,157 per year for this job.
How much does a first time author make? ›
For a first-time author, your advance usually ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 on average per book. So let's say you receive a $10,000 advance for your first book. This means you would then need to earn $10,000 in royalties from the sale of the book before you receive any additional income.
Is it possible to read 1000 books in a year? ›
A novel averages 100,000 words. One hour of reading per day can hit 30-40 books per year. Six hours of reading per day can hit 200-250 books per year. To read 1,000 books in a year, you need to read 22 hours per day.
Is it possible to read 70 books in a year? ›
This one may sound obvious, but the best way to increase the amount of books you read is to always have a book. Gaps of a few weeks without any reading material means several less books you can read each year. Worse, time spent without a book breaks down your reading habits so it can be harder to start again.
Is it possible to read 52 books in a year? ›
By planning out what books you want to read ahead of time, setting aside just a few minutes each day, listening to audiobooks, and even taking up speed reading, you will be able to read 52 books a year EASILY!
Is it possible to read 80 books in a year? ›
I set out to read 100 books in a calendar year. Ultimately, I came up short, but I did finish the year having read 80 books. Overall I am thrilled that I read so many books. I set such an extravagant goal so that I could feel proud even if I didn't reach it.
