How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read

How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read is a 2007 French book written by Pierre Bayard.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Pierre Bayard
2. Genre: Non-Fiction
3. Publication Date: October 30, 2007
4. Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
5. Pages: 208
6. ISBN 1596914696

Plot Synopsis

In his book How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read, Pierre Bayard humorously argues that it is "an authentically creative activity" to discuss books we know little about. In fact, to him, hanging on to every word of a book defeats the true purpose of reading: self-revelation.

Bayard also claims that overall, society does not desire to be well-read, but appear to be well-read.

Not that it matters. According to Bayard, nobody really seems to remember books in detail after reading them. Instead, readers take "falsified remnants" of the material, and bring those to discussion anyway.

Critical Reception

Booklist, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine all praised Bayard's witty arguments in How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read.

The Chicago Tribune labeled the book as a "work of inspired nonsense," and though Los Angeles Times critic Jane Smiley was not as generous with her praise, she called Bayard "very funny, in a tricky sort of way, although not in a laugh-out-loud sort of way."

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