.....just because they have a lot of books?
2006-08-05 22:31:36 · 25 answers · asked by Talk To The Hand 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I know where you are coming from. I have a lot of books, and visitors do tend to assume I must be pretty clever.
Until they check out what they actually are!
(Although, I'm glad to say I have no Mills & Boon or Danielle Steel - yuck!)
2006-08-05 23:12:22 · answer #1 · answered by Hello Dave 6 · 14⤊ 5⤋
No, unfortunately some people actually use them for decorating. A few questions asked or just listening to the person while having a conversation should tell you all you need to know. I have seen books on sale at book shows refered to as "shelve fillers." Rather sad when you think about it. Usually someone who reads a lot has books will have books all over the house, basically anywhere there is an empty spot is destined to have a book placed there whether it is the bathroom, the bedroom, etc. That book will then grow into a stack. Intelligence is another matter completely. Garbage in, garbage out. The pursuit of knowledge is never ending once you start the journey. You will learn how much you don't know and it should only make you more passionate to learn more. Intelligence is another matter completely. Garbage in, garbage out. The pursuit of knowledge is never ending once you start the journey. You will learn how much you don't know and it should only make you more passionate to learn more. Books are wonderful but living life is probably the best way to get educated.
2006-08-06 02:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a difference between intelligence and education. Someone who has a lot of books may be educated - but that doesn't make the intelligent - learning parrot fashion. However, an intelligent person is more likely to have books, but then again, if they borrow from the library rather than buy the books they will be well-read but show no physical signs of their reading - and that could mean that they were smart enough to not pay out for the books in the first place.
2006-08-05 22:52:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were to ask me to draw someone intelligent, I would probably stick a book in their hands because I just find it symbolic. However, it's hard to picture and draw intelligence because there are many different types of intelligence and people. It depends on the books as well. I think I respect people more if they read, but I don't really view them as intelligent. I have lots of books and I'm not very intelligent. I know people who have books just because they look nice. Good question though.
2006-08-06 01:36:37 · answer #4 · answered by Steph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the books. Also if they read them or just "have" them lying around. I guess people do this because I get people coming over to my place and they say "Have you read all these?" meaning the books. And I say "Some of them twice."
Other people assume things about you if you have a book or books in your hand. I don't know how many times I have been asked "Are you a teacher?"
The late Bill Hicks, the comedian had a bit about eating in a Waffle House and reading a book and the waitress comes over and says "what ya reading for?" Not "what ya reading" but "what ya reading FOR?" One not nice answer being "So I don't get stuck working in a waffle house all my life."
2006-08-06 02:29:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that they are necessarily intelligent even if they have READ the books.
I am a PhD student (on a leave of absence) and I will tell you that academians can be some of the DUMBEST people on earth. Sure, they are well read, and may write magnificently, but most of them are in the ivory tower of the academy, and have NO IDEA how the real world works.
Yet they will still criticize the world outside, pointing out its injustices and flaws at every turn, meanwhile not realizing that they themselves are complete morons.
Love, Jack
2006-08-06 02:26:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I'd just assume they're literate. There are a lot of literate people who aren't necessarily too intelligent, but then again, it's all relative. If you can't read, then I guess everyone who can is automatically intelligent. ;)
2006-08-05 22:41:11 · answer #7 · answered by anonfuture 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I'm a librarian, and I can tell you this isn't true. Besides, I've know people who think it's good to have lots of books and haven't read them all. There is also all the difference in the world between KNOWLEDGE, which we get from books and WISDOM, which we get from living.
2006-08-05 22:34:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the books, if it a case of Mills and Boon then no.
If they read good books and have a few reference tomes then Yes, well read generally mean they are a little smarter than someone who only reads the TV guide.
2006-08-05 22:39:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you mean "have" or "read" a lot of books?
having/ owning books has nothing to do with being intelligent...
but if you read a lot, i would say you are smarter than people who don't read much...
2006-08-06 01:47:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tend to assume that they are capable of reading. I don't assume more than that unless I know more. What books are they? Has the person actually read them? Do they show patterns of interest such as science or foreign language?
2006-08-05 22:58:59 · answer #11 · answered by Kuji 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋