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You Are What You Read: Reading Habits of Voters
During an election season, we hear nonstop analysis of how different the two political parties are. Conservatives and liberals are at odds when it comes to taxes, healthcare, defense...and the list goes on. But what about their reading habits? We polled* Goodreads members to find out which 2012 presidential candidate will get their vote, and then we looked at the books these voters had shelved. Opinions of certain books were split along party lines, but there was also a lot of agreement. Perhaps a love of reading should be a plank in both Obama and Romney's platforms.
Take a look at the results in this infographic, and we leave it to you to draw your own conclusions. Are Obama voters more drawn to Jonathan Franzen as a champion of the middle class? Are David McCullough's books on the Founding Fathers favorites of Tea Party supporters? What books are you reading this election season?
* One important caveat: Not everyone in our poll is eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential election, either due to age or geography.
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Josephine
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Oct 08, 2012 07:35AM
Oh cool! I like these analyses that you do occasionally. Thanks for sharing. :)
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Not really that helpful of an info graphic. was hoping for something a bit more informative.
I concur. This is not really very insightful, mostly fluff. And not to brag, but I have read more than both party members (according to the graphic) combined in 2012 so far. Oh, and I could not care less about Franzen though I am not likely to support Romney (not that I think Obama is perfect).
Interesting... but a bit kind of meh on the info.
Hmm I know none of those books. I'm curious, how was the info collected?
Interesting that the differences are not that large. For all the sniping back and forth we are all really the same
Wasn't much surprised by this except for the McCullough. He's just a darn good author. I read his stuff and I am absolutely NOT a Romney fan.
Meredith wrote: "Interesting that the differences are not that large. For all the sniping back and forth we are all really the same"HA! Glad someone said it! Thanks :)
I've read about 26 books this year but I have read none of those books and I'm supporting and voting for "None of the Above"
I agree with all of the above. It's interesting but nothing that really pops out.
Rachel wrote: "I've read about 26 books this year but I have read none of those books and I'm supporting and voting for "None of the Above""I'm with you Rachel! :0)
I've read 175 books so far this year, none on this list, though my boring husband did read atlas shrugged. Can't wait until November when all this is over. Can we have a write in vote? How about Nora Roberts for president?
Sure its fluffy, but I don't mind. There's enough flame on every other sure in the Web.
Cathy wrote: "Wasn't much surprised by this except for the McCullough. He's just a darn good author. I read his stuff and I am absolutely NOT a Romney fan." I agree! McCullough is a darn good author and I have read just about everything he's written. I am NOT a Romney fan either.
I am heartened to know that "The Big Short" had just as many readers on both sides of the aisle. Now if everyone in the country would read it, we might have a decent starting point to discuss foreign and domestic trade. Thanks. Fun little poll.
Debbie wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Wasn't much surprised by this except for the McCullough. He's just a darn good author. I read his stuff and I am absolutely NOT a Romney fan." I agree! McCullough is a darn good aut..."Well, there's some irony there. McCullough has done a ton of work for PBS and was central voice for many of Ken Burns documentaries. And Romney, as noted at the debate, would give PBS a pink slip given the chance.
What about supporters of Gary Johnson,( the former 2 term Governor of New Mexico who is *also* on the ballot?) If you included us, you would probably discover that we have have a broad range of interests that meet right in the middle of the far right and the far left.
this was interesting but I would have liked to have seen more stats.
Cool, I too would love to see this type of analyzes done more often. World series teams (when known), Superbowl teams (when known), North vs. South, Male/female or Rural/urban ... Possibilities are endless.
Jim wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I've read about 26 books this year but I have read none of those books and I'm supporting and voting for "None of the Above""I guess that's your loss and ultimately everyone else to..."
Danielle wrote: "Hmm I know none of those books. I'm curious, how was the info collected?"It says it at the beginning - there was a poll not long ago that was asking who we'd vote for in the upcoming elections, and when the poll closed the people behind it looked into, and analyzed, the books that the people who took the poll had read.
Why are Obama supporters called "fans" and Romney supporters called "supporters"? It seems a little bit nasty to use the term fan. I would call myself a supporter of Obama NOT a fan.
Your caveat is a big one. It says that your poll is meaningless.
Felonious wrote: "Cool, I too would love to see this type of analyzes done more often. World series teams (when known), Superbowl teams (when known), North vs. South, Male/female or Rural/urban ... Possibilities are..."Yes, this was an entertaining comparison I would like to see more of. I certainly wasn't expecting anything of scientific value.
Avidreader wrote: "Why are Obama supporters called "fans" and Romney supporters called "supporters"? It seems a little bit nasty to use the term fan. I would call myself a supporter of Obama NOT a fan."Both terms are used on both sides. Obama supporters twice, fans twice. Romney supporters four times, fans once.
I haven't heard of most titles cited, except for 'Nickel & Dimed' & 'Atlas Shrugged'....I liked both (books- prefer Rand's 'Fountainhead', though. The Atlas movie sucked. Not a book that translates well imto film, IMHO.) As for the candidates, I'm throwing in the towel. Not voting for president this year, neither candidate appeals to me. Got buyer's remorse for voting Obama last time. I'll write in Ron Paul or Jello Biafra or Carl from ATHF.
I love those stats features - keep them coming!
funny I dont remember getting the poll, and I dont seem to fit most of your demographics and I've voted every year since 1980.
The thing to keep in mind about a poll like this is that it's self-selecting from the get--because we all frequent Goodreads due to our love of reading and books ;) so we already have that in common. I imagine the differences would probably vary a bit more if the poll were taken to the streets.
Pretty neat, and interesting analysis no matter which way you swing it.
Well, I am a Romney fan and would be unlikely to read any of the above. :-/ I never have fit the norm.
I am a Romney fan since day 1.And the only book I have read from this thing is Heaven is Real... :D
Avidreader wrote: "Why are Obama supporters called "fans" and Romney supporters called "supporters"? It seems a little bit nasty to use the term fan. I would call myself a supporter of Obama NOT a fan."Good point! :)
The poll means nothing because noncitizens and other nonvoters were included in it.
Yeah...so this poll is rather meaningless.People don't fit into nice little categories where you can say they are most likely to read this or that. I don't fall into the norm, and I wouldn't read a single one of those books.
The funny thing is that I read both John Adams and Nickel and Dimed. I enjoyed John Adams more but Nickel and Dimed is a fantastic book as well.Also, I’m voting for Obama.
I actually thought this was rather insightful. Particularly interesting to note that Romney supporters are much more likely to read a supposedly nonfiction book about some little kid who allegedly went to heaven and reported back. Regardless, some of you are taking this WAY too seriously. It's not a real, official poll, so it doesn't have to be scientific or say anything relevant. It's just for fun. And for those of you saying you didn't "get" the poll, it wasn't sent to anyone--it was on the Goodreads main page for all to see and answer if they chose. So lighten up!
I've never even heard of any of those books (except Atlas Shrugged, which I've never had any interest in).Does that mean I can't vote Republican OR Democrat?
An infographic? That's so Web 1.0. Always make a book title or an author a link.
You missed an opportunity to drive book readership (and by extension Goodreads' bottom line).
I think it's fascinating and would love for Goodreads to do more varieties of polls and comparisons like this
I think all this proves is that political factions aren't too different from each other.
I think Romney supporters giving a better review of Atlas Shrugged says a lot about our country.
Libertarians love Ayn Rand...more so than republicans. I liked The Fountainhead a lot better than AS (the recent two part film adaptation was atrocious). Rand articulated a much better argument for individualism vs. collectivism based on artistic & creative integrity (The Fountainhead) than in Atlas Shrugged, based more on just glorifying robber baron type monopolists.
