Why do some people think because they read books they are more intelligent than others?

Hi rickrose22
I have some sympathy with what you say but reading anything probably helps a bit. Probably some people overestimate the value of what they are reading. Quality and content do matter hugely. Still anything helps and maybe one person's reading pleasure is another's hell. Reading Romance Novels say might hone your emotional intelligence.
I sometimes wonder where a book goes after you read it. In your mind I mean. What does it do? Sit somewhere like a book on a shelf or does it influence every other thought you have from then on in some subtle way? Don't know.
:)

Whatever you read - it's going to expand your intelligence beyond your own thoughts could take you.

There's a strong correlation (and I would go further to causation) between book reading and ability to select a useful and creative response to a stimulus (=intelligence).

Reading takes the reverse-snobbery exhibited by some people away.

I hate pretentious people. Reading books doesn't make you smarter than anyone else. It just means you have different hobbies, or a boring social life. The only thing that should actually matter is how you treat others and how they treat you. Ths is probably something that the bs self-proclaimed philosophers don't understand. They can read all the books in the world, but the only way to understand people is by interacting with them as equals. The only way to become an expert in something is to practice it and get involved. You could read hundreds of books on performing open heart surgery and be a self-professed expert on the subject, but how embarassing would it be to faint at the sight of blood. People are sooooo competitive. They define themselves in comparisons. I'm good because I'm not this thing that I call bad. I read a lot of books so I must be smarter than him because he reads none. No! Learn to define yourself and stop passing judgment on others. "Numbnuts"

They are smarter.

EricS said it best. Wonderful answer !!!

I favor oral traditions,experiential knowledge and finding my truth where it may present itself.I enjoy books.read'em and pile 'em up and on a good day-give 'em away.Am I smarter than the illiterate crackpipe affictionado down by the fishmonger's dumpster?c'mon now-it's all relative poeople...
the poetic tradition is very strong and alive in Irish culture,partly because for centuries we were forbidden to read.Is paddy on the railway a more intelligent fellow than little lord fauntleroy?I'll make my own assuptions depending on what a person does with what they're cursed or gifted with-the jury's out for lunch.

I don't know - I read non fiction historical stuff, computer stuff, German Shepherd care stuff, and art stuff.

So I guess that in a sense, I am smarter then most. At least in some areas. But not as smart as others in these areas. And certainly not in areas that don't interest me, or that I know nothing about.

*smiles at Antigravity's answer*

I was known as an intellectual from a very early age and I missed out on being liked. I don't think I'm better because I read, I simply want to understand the world around me. When you find it difficult to make friends due to a disability, books help you to love yourself. I am a proud bibliophile and a voracious audiophile.

Fictions is good for the creative side of the brain, non-fiction for relevant education, if they're being snotty/undiplomatic they could probably read up more on there people skills lol more fool them, and horrible to make you feel like that, books do educate and therefore give people a more advanced deeper view on things, so you can perhaps have a lot more information on subjects, and give a more informed opinion/judgement, rather than just the first thing that comes into our head, which is often inexperienced and often not correct.They're not more intelligent than you if you read the same books you may be a lot quicker with your IQ etc but they they have some advancement over you on a subject if you have not researched it/no experience of it.

I heartily agree.

I read a little bit of everything. That doesn't make me think I'm smarter than anyone though. Maybe you've met the wrong people, or maybe you're going about this with the wrong attitude. The smartest people of all are the ones that know that out of everything they have knowledge of, it's barely anything at all.

i think reading probably increases your vocabulary... and if you read peer reviewed journal articles, well, then i believe you are probably acquiring a good amount of knowlege. but i agree-- just because you've read some fiction or some annoying opinionated book that allegedly reveals "secrets" that the government is trying to hide from you, you are not necessarily smarter than anyone else.

knowledgeable and intelligent are two different things. which one are you referring to here? while reading cannot make you more intelligent, it certainly adds to your knowledge. what you choose to read is another question - comments to bad celebrity photos in numerous glossy magazines and russian gloomy novels offer quite significantly different sophistication levels to the readers.
finally, i think there could be a confusion of cause and effect here. while intelligent people tend to read a lot, reading alone is not a single factor determining your IQ. actually the genetic make-up is the most accurate predictor of one's intelligent. it's just something that i read recently.

HA HA! They are just reading the wrong books! :P

While I generally agree, it's hard for me not to shirk the idea, as I live in the deep rural south, but have no accent. All during my childhood when I would question this, my dad would just laugh and say "It's 'cause you read all those darn books!" as I would roll my eyes at him.

it is the same as people who go to church and think they are good, the act its self alone does not make it so. i understand what you mean.

Well some are and some just think they are. They should keep their mouths shut when in a group, they can come across as bores.

It's hard to even DEFINE intelligence. I see where you're going, but it all depends on what kind of intelligence. If that person is reading fiction in the time that you're sitting in a park watching the clouds go by, they have THAT much more knowledge than you do. It doesn't mean that they're geniuses.
Unless you're bumping into bragging geniuses who like to read a lot of fiction.