Phobias Types Overcoming the Fear of Books or Bibliophobia By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 20, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Arman Zhenikeyev / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents The Phobia of Books Treating Bibliophobia Bibliophobia in Popular Culture Bibliophobia is an unusual phobia of books. It can be broadly defined as the fear of books, but it also refers to a fear of reading or reading out loud or in public. Many people have only a subset of this phobia, fearing textbooks or historical novels or children’s stories, rather than a fear of all books. Mythophobia, or the fear of legends, can be considered a subtype of bibliophobia if the fear is of those legends that are written down. Metrophobia, or fear of poetry, is another subtype of bibliophobia. At a Glance For many people, opening a book can feel daunting. It may conjure up memories of trying to decipher Shakespeare and being stuck in school all day. Even if a childhood dislike for reading has followed you to adulthood, that doesn't mean you have a phobia. Like other specific phobias, a bibliophobia diagnosis requires that the fear of books be unreasonable, persistent, and out of proportion to the actual danger. If you hate reading, that's not a phobia. If the thought of opening a book causes instant, debilitating anxiety and extreme distress, however, you may want to discuss treatment options—such as therapy—with a mental health professional. The Phobia of Books If you experience bibliophobia, you may have difficulty when forced or encouraged to read. You may fear the stories themselves. Or, even the simple act of reading, holding a book, or being in a library may cause anxious behavior associated with your phobia. If you have learning disabilities or difficulty with reading, then it is natural to be nervous, particularly when reading out loud. It is important to determine and treat the root cause of the phobia, which could be tied more specifically to social anxiety. You may have been ostracized in childhood for not reading adequately or forced to read before you were proficient, so the fear is associated with a lack of control over reading material which has created your aversion and resulted in anxiety surrounding books. If you have bibliophobia, you may shake, sweat or cry when having to read. You might go out of your way to avoid reading out loud by sitting in the back of a classroom or even skipping classes altogether. You may try to convince others to read important information to you instead of having to read it yourself. Or you may heavily control your interaction with books or reading environments such as libraries, museums, and other places where reading is an important aspect of the experience. Treating Bibliophobia Because bibliophobia can be extremely life-limiting, causing problems at work and school as well as in personal life, it's important that you seek proper treatment. Your doctor or mental health professional will work with you to develop a treatment plan that fits your needs. You will likely be taught new ways of thinking about books, and encouraged to read a few pages at a time within the safety of your therapist’s office. At no time will you be forced to progress at a faster pace than you feel comfortable with. Exposure therapy is a common treatment for phobias in which you are exposed to the object of your fear in a safe, controlled environment to help you overcome the fear and break the cycle of avoidance. It's also used for conditions like PTSD and OCD. Remember that treatment is not a cure, so your best course of action is to continue to expose yourself to books to lessen your anxiety stemming from your fear. This continual exposure will help you better overcome your phobia in the long run. Increasing your exposure to the thing you're afraid of may sound scary, but the effectiveness of exposure therapy is supported by research. There's a reason "face your fears" is such a common saying. Bibliophobia in Popular Culture Although this phobia is rather unusual, it makes an excellent backdrop for certain Halloween events, such as Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. In Universal’s scenario, for example, a female drama voice coach develops both bibliophobia and metrophobia, making it difficult or impossible to do her job. The treatment, in horror movie style, is to force the woman to face horrific images contained in a series of twisted fairy tales. This may be a comic way of showing people who are afraid of scary stories, but the fear should be taken seriously because of the consequences of this particular fear. 1 Source Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed). Washington DC: Author; 2013. Additional Reading American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed). Washington DC: Author; 2013. By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit