What Does It Mean To Be “Well-Read”?


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Being a ‘well-read person’ is a pretty vague term, and it’s hard to know exactly what it means.

Luckily, we’ve done the hard part for you – this guide has everything there is to know about what being well-read means and how to become a well-read person!

What Does It Mean To Be “Well-Read”?

What Does Being ‘Well-Read’ Mean?

First of all, let’s establish what it means to be a well-read person. As the name suggests, a well-read person is someone who gained extensive knowledge on a variety of subjects through reading, and is well-versed in highly-regarded literature.

Being well-read doesn’t just involve having a good knowledge of a single topic – instead, it means being well-informed about many subjects and areas of reading.

This includes everything from classic literature to more contemporary fiction and covers a diverse range of genres.

A well-read person will also seek knowledge through non-fiction books, such as scientific journals, historical non-fiction, and even autobiographies.

It’s important to note that there isn’t a single strict definition of being well-read, and you don’t have to stick to a set reading list in order to be a well-read person.

Every person’s interpretation of being well-read will differ, as will their opinions of what books make a person well-read.

However, there are some qualities that define a well-read person. They must read across a wide range of genres (both fiction and non-fiction), and actively seek new knowledge from the books that they read.

Being well-read isn’t a passive process, and it takes a lot of passion and motivation to constantly be on the lookout for new books to learn from.

With that said, though, it’s also a rewarding mindset that lets you be knowledgeable on a wide range of fascinating topics.

How To Become A Well-Read Person

Being well-read takes a lot of work, but at its core, it’s all about reading as much as possible.

As mentioned before, a well-read person will have extensive knowledge of a wide range of genres and styles of literature, from contemporary literature to highly-esteemed classic novels.

Reading isn’t much use if you don’t get anything out of it, however, and there are some ways you can approach your reading to help you get the most out of each book.

Here are some handy tips and tricks to get you on your way toward becoming a well-read person!

1)  Read, Read, Read

By far the most important part of becoming well-read is reading as much as you can.

Reading a variety of books will let you become knowledgeable about many different subjects, and diverse genres will offer many perspectives and styles of writing.

A well-read person will cover anything from famous novels (such as Frankenstein and Pride and Prejudice) to contemporary classics (like Of Mice and Men or The Catcher in the Rye).

If you aren’t really sure what books you should be reading, then take a look at lists of “100 books to read before you die” and award-winning novels.

2) Learn From The Books You Read

2) Learn From The Books You Read

Reading alone doesn’t make you well-read, however, and no amount of reading will help you if you don’t gain anything from it.

While this mainly applies to non-fiction reading like memoirs, historical accounts, and scientific journals, there is still a lot to be learned from fictional writing as well. 

Most fiction gives an indication of attitudes and conditions at the time of writing (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or To Kill A Mockingbird, for example), along with philosophies and ideas that the author weaved into the text.

Actively learning from the books you read will make you a far more well-read person.

3) Schedule Dedicated Reading Time

It can be hard to actively learn from a book if you’re reading it while distracted or without fully focusing on the text.

Scheduling some alone time to read without distractions will let you get much more out of your reading.

Find some peace and quiet, and keep distractions like your phone away while you read.

This lets you properly engage with what you’re reading. Even just spending some time with a book before bed gives your reading more structure.

4) Switch Between Difficulties

It’s no secret that some famous novels can be tough to read, and you won’t be able to get as much out of your reading if you’re constantly struggling with advanced literature and non-fiction.

Switching things up with some lighter reading doesn’t just give your brain a break from tougher subjects, it also gives you a chance to read for pleasure without the pressure to learn.

5) Make Notes

Engaging thoroughly with a text will give you a much deeper understanding of its meaning.

This goes for both fiction and non-fiction – jotting down notes while you read will help you remember important information from academic texts, as well as let you analyze subtext and nuances in literature.

Keep a notebook handy or just scribble in the margins; being well-read is all about engaging and learning from books, and part of that is interacting with the ideas and subjects present.

Which Matters More: Fiction Or Non-Fiction?

The scope of notable writing out there can be overwhelming, so you might be wondering whether reading fiction or non-fiction is more important for being well-read.

This is pretty tough to answer, as engaging with both forms of writing is crucial to becoming a well-read person.

It might seem like non-fiction is the more important category, as it offers factual information about real-world events, keeping you well-informed about various subjects like science and history.

However, reading fiction and literature is just as important for being well-read. Engaging with a wide range of fiction gives you a deeper understanding of writing styles and teaches you how to analyze what you read with a more critical eye.

Reading a balance of fiction and non-fiction is the best way to get the most out of your reading and will help you become a well-read person.

Final Thoughts 

Being well-read takes time and effort, but it helps you become a more informed, cultured, and educated person.

So if you want to be a well-read person, you’d better start reading! Grab a book, relax, and enjoy!

Athena Sula
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