Read It and Reap: How Reading More Promotes Love, Success, and Happiness

Key takeaways:

• Some 24% of people instantly swipe right on dating profiles that show someone reading, while 75% prefer a partner who is well-read over someone physically attractive.

• Seeking self-improvement, 73% read self-help books to grow, learn, and cope. Likewise, 89% of respondents trust books more than influencers for advice.

• One in five people who read 11 or more books each year say they’re thriving in life, compared to 14% who read less than five.

• Similarly, 72% of regular readers feel they’re making progress in their career, compared to 59% of light readers.

Could the secret to success in love, work, and life be hiding on your bookshelf?

Ahead of National Book Lovers Day on August 9, book summary app Headway surveyed 2,000 people on self-improvement, dating trends, career progress, and just how much reading shapes success in these areas of their lives.

The results show that reading isn’t just a pastime. It’s a powerful tool to boost your mood, elevate your value, and improve yourself.

Hardbacks and heartthrobs: Can reading improve your romantic prospects?

If you want to improve your dating app success, skip the expensive gym memberships and extortionate beauty regimes. With 34% instantly swiping right on dating profile photos that show a potential match reading (and another 51% admitting they’re turned on by the right title), a good page-turner can transform your romantic fortunes.

If you're looking for online dating advice, dating profile tips, or eye-catching dating profile bio ideas, reading is a real love language.

Searching for a dating app for book lovers? There’s no need – good literature gets the heart beating for most.

No, seriously – 75% of people admit they would prefer a partner who is well-read rather than physically attractive. So, if you really want to find your very own Mr. Darcy, Katniss Everdeen, or Edward Cullen? Pick up a book and learn from the best.

The plot thickens: being a book lover doesn’t just boost your desirability, but not reading is a total turn-off. Some 58% admit they’re unlikely to date someone who doesn’t read, and for 1 in 7, it would end any chance of romance at the first chapter.

If you're not a regular reader, a little sneakiness never hurt. When it comes to first impressions in dating, name-dropping the right title can be enough to get them hooked. In fact, 36% admit they’ve pretended to love a book to impress a potential match.

When sparks fly between book lovers, dating is easy. You don’t need cliché dinners – 74% would happily go on a first date to a bookstore. Cozy corners, shared stories, and the chance to explore each other’s taste in literature? It’s the perfect plotline.

Shelf discovery: Does reading really support self-growth?

Among the best sellers? Self-help. Whether they’re going through tough times (24%), want to improve themselves (24%), or simply love to learn (25%), 73% of people admit they read self-help books to help them grow and cope.

And they aren’t just flicking through to impress their friends, colleagues, or dates. While 25% admit to pretending to read a popular self-help book in the past, most are reading cover to cover, searching for ways to improve themselves.

While it may seem like social media is the go-to source of information in the modern day, books still come out on top, with 89% of people admitting they trust books over influencers for self-improvement advice.

But can books really rewrite your life? For 69% of people, the ending is resoundingly positive. For 1 in 16, a single book helped to close the chapter on a bad relationship, while 1 in 25 say it nudged them toward starting therapy. 

For others, reading encouraged real character development, with 17% starting to exercise more or eat better, and 22% changing their daily routine. Likewise, for 1 in 20 it sparked an exciting new subplot: starting a new business or side hustle.

Reading alone won’t magically manifest your every want and need, but it can light the spark you need to make the fictional life you desire a reality.  In fact, 76% of people say reading has helped them build better habits.

Read well, live well: The link between reading regularly and loving life

While some like to take it slow and appreciate every word, others like to race through books like it’s a competitive sport. While 46% admit they read less than five books each year, 28% read between six and ten, and 12% set a pace of two books every month.

Turning pages doesn’t just build character – It can also put a more positive spin on your personal plotline. Among those who read 11 or more books each year, 20% say they’re thriving, compared to just 14% of those who barely make it through five.

And while 11% of light readers admit their life satisfaction is low, the average drops to just 6% among those who read six or more books a year.

Here’s some relationship advice to keep the spark alive: read more. If you’re a bookworm, dating is no bother, with happily-ever-afters more common among heavier readers.

Among those who read 11 or more books each year, 51% say they’re in a happy relationship, compared to just 44% of those who rarely read.

From mindset manuals to leadership guides and billionaire autobiographies, the right read could accelerate your climb up the corporate ladder. Some 72% of people who consume more than 21 books each year say they’re growing and achieving – or at least making steady progress – in their career. Among those who barely crack five, just 59% feel the same. 

So if your career feels stuck, it might not be your boss holding you back, but your bookshelf.

Likewise, 27% of those who read 11 or more books each year say they’re doing well financially, compared to just 13% of those who read five or less… so maybe that promotion you’ve been chasing and the paycheck that it promises is just another chapter away.

Of course, health and wealth aren’t actually hidden between the pages. The likely reality is that those thriving have the headspace to read more, while stressed minds are too busy worrying to focus on the page.

But you shouldn't underestimate the positive mood and mindset a good book can provide. Reading promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and removes tension – which are bound to benefit you in life and at the office.

About Headway

With over 50 million users in 170+ countries, the Headway app is the world's most downloaded book summary app. It offers 15-minute audio and text summaries of nonfiction bestsellers, as well as daily microlearning sessions and gamified challenges. The app is designed to help people achieve their self-development goals. Headway received the Editor's Choice award from the US App Store and constantly hits the App Store home screen as App of the Day.