‘Landmark Fakespeare Survey Reveals the Confessions of a Fake-reader’

Key Observations:

• 25.82% of Indians choose Economics and finance related books to fake!

• 21.87% of respondents would choose Classic English Literature to pretend reading

• 27.55% respondents would choose Airport lobbies to fake-read followed by 25.98% who would fib in a coffee shop!

What extent will you go to create an impression? What is your weapon of mass impression? According to Landmark Fakespeare survey, one in four Indians admit to pretending to read literary works in public to impress. According to the survey, 25.82% Indians preferred reading Economy and Finance, closely followed by 21.87% inclining towards Classic English Literature such as Charles Dickens.

Among India’s seven key cities, airport waiting lounges and coffee shops are the preferred public spaces for India’s ‘literary tricksters’ whose motivations range from seduction (23% would fake reading to impress a potential partner) tsato purely aesthetic (13% would purchase books simply to decorate their homes). According to the survey, the other places where people would fake read are trains, buses or aircrafts, at a party, in the library and at the workplace during lunch hours.

Sharing his insights on the trend, Mr. Sivaraman Balakrishnan, Senior manager Marketing & Communication at Landmark stores, says, “Like any accessory, books can be used to convey meaning; this could range from taste or mood, to level of intellect or social standing; in fact our survey reveals nearly 10% of Indians having purchased a book simply to complete their outfit! Hollywood actresses like Natalie Portman and Kate Spade are already sporting books and clutch bags in the shape novels to movie premieres; I’m not sure what message that conveys about the film their promoting or if they are planning to read the books during the screening, but it does confirm the role books are playing in people’s overall look.”

About The Landmark Fakespeare Survey 2014:

Reading or fake reading? If you love fake reading to act intelligent to impress your prospective partner or spouse; new employers, friends, colleagues. The art of effortlessly faking reading is known to few. Mastering that art is an art in itself. Landmark Fakespeare survey is a light-hearted survey about spotting the Fakespeares or the one who lie about having read a book that they haven’t. It could also be someone who thinks it’s perfectly cool to claim to read but not go beyond the preface. It is fun to know more about Fakespeares because at some point we all have claimed to read or atleast attempted to read the Bestsellers but never gone beyond three pages. Come, tell us about your Fakespeare moments by clicking this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BS836WC

About Landmark:

Landmark, a TATA Enterprise, is one of India’s largest leisure & entertainment retailer. With over 25 years of retail experience, Landmark is all about building a generation of well-informed people. Landmark’s focus has been on a wide & exciting assortment of merchandise across its core categories of Toys, Books, Stationery, Gaming, Travel & Gifting. Landmark is a 100% subsidiary of Trent Limited, the retail arm of the Tata conglomerate; Landmark has 10 large format stores across 6 cities in India.

Landmark has always been known for its multifaceted and popular events, it has been a destination for Books, Toys & Game launches. The guest list boasts of authors like Chetan Bhagat, Amish Tripathi, Jeffrey Archer, Ken Follet, Wilbur Smith, Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, and Kiran Desai, film personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shyam Benegal, and Karan Johar, Landmark has also been at the forefront of holding events that present children with their favourite characters like Ben 10, Barbie, DORA, and Doraemon.