We’re all going on a summer holiday … don’t forget the books!

According to recent survey (commissioned by lastminute.com) Brits read 66.5 million books on a typical two week summer holiday.

• Brits are the most prolific holiday readers compered to European counterparts
• Brits read 2.6 books each on a typical two week holiday, which gives a total of 66.5 million across the UK
• Germans and Spanish are three times more likely to read X-rated fiction than the British

The ‘What’s the Story’ report questioned more than 10,000 adults across 9 European countries and found that holidays are the second most popular place to read a book (65%) after home (83%).

Of those who read on holiday, just over 2 books are read on average per person on a typical two-week break.    

• Two thirds (65%) of Europeans read on holiday with Swedes (72%) topping the reading poll.
• In close second are the British and Irish (both 71%)
• The Italians and French are the least likely to pack a book (55% and 56% respectively)

Within the UK women are more likely to read on holiday (78%) than men (64%), with females getting through an average of 3 books on a two week break, compared to 2 books for men.

Likelihood to read on holiday

Country	% of adults in each country who read on holiday
Sweden	72%
UK	71%
Ireland	71%
Germany	69%
Norway	68%
Denmark	65%
Spain	59%
France	56%
Italy	55%

Perhaps unpredictably, comedy is most favoured by German and Irish holiday readers (30%)

Mediterraneans (France, Spain and Italy) opt for science fiction, comics and fantasy fiction such as Harry Potter (29%, 36% and 28% respectively)

The Spanish topped the list of readers of spiritual, self-help and religious literature (17%)