- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- ChildrenPop Culture
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every August 9
- Holiday emoji:
- 📚
National Book Lovers Day invites everyone to celebrate the joy of reading every August 9. Dive into a captivating novel, explore a fascinating non-fiction title, or simply reread an old favorite. Pick up a new book, visit your local library, or share your favorite literary quote with a friend.
Want to sponsor National Book Lovers Day? Learn how
Expected National Book Lovers Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Book Lovers Day often brings special offers from major retailers and independent bookstores. Expect discounts on bestsellers, e-readers, and audiobooks from platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Digital services such as Audible and Libby may offer extended free trials or discounted subscriptions. Many local independent bookstores will host special events, author signings, or offer in-store promotions. Keep an eye out for publisher-specific sales from houses like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 9 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Book Lovers Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBookLoversDay. Share a photo of your current read, your favorite cozy reading nook, or a stack of books on your wishlist.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalBookLoversDay. Create a ‘BookTok’ video reviewing your top five books or showcasing creative ways to display your home library.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalBookLoversDay. Ask your followers for their favorite book recommendations or share a quote from a beloved author.
National Book Lovers Day Hero
Johannes Gutenberg
History of National Book Lovers Day
Book Lovers Day appreciates the medium that has withstood and preserved its importance in time — literature. Our love for books knows no bounds — someday we’ll write a book on it.
The modern book is made by binding paper, but before the invention of paper, books came in the form of tablets, scrolls, and engravings. Every civilization had its own way to document events. Some time in 3500 B.C., the Mesopotamians would make markings on clay tablets using a pointed device, made from the stem of the reed plant, called the calamus. These writings on the moist clay were called ‘cuneiform.’ Approximately 20,000 of these tablets were discovered in modern-day Iraq.
Paper was invented in China in the 1st century A.D. By experimenting with various materials such as hemp, fishnets, and the mulberry plant, Ts’ai Lun invented the first paper. With time, printing on woodblocks also became the go-to way of reproducing books in China. The ancient scrolls dating back to the 4th century B.C. are considered the first ‘books,’ but by today’s definition, the oldest surviving compiled book is “The Diamond Sutra” which was published in China on May 11, 868.
Hardback books ruled the market at the start of the 20th century, with a certain prestige associated with the hard bindings of books. But from 1937 onwards, paperbacks rose in popularity, paving the way for digests, pulp fiction, and pocket-friendly books.
Advancement in computers and technology led to the digitization of books, with the first book sold in CD format in the 1980s, “The New Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia.”
National Book Lovers Day timeline
Ex-goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press.
Iconic Left Bank bookstore Shakespeare and Company publishes James Joyce's masterpiece when no one else would give it a chance.
Poet Allen Ginsberg's book "Howl" is so controversial that Lawrence Ferlinghetti, owner and publisher of City Lights in San Francisco, winds up busted for obscenity.
At the height of her popularity, Oprah Winfrey names “The Deep End of the Ocean” by Jacquelyn Mitchard as the first offering in her book club.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Book Lovers Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Book Lovers Day by fostering a love for reading within their communities. Coffee shops might offer discounts to customers seen reading a book or host a ‘book swap’ event. Independent bookstores can organize author readings, themed story times for children, or special promotions on bestsellers. Libraries can highlight new acquisitions, run a ‘blind date with a book’ program, or encourage patrons to share their favorite literary quotes on social media. Even non-book-related businesses can participate by setting up a small reading corner or sponsoring a local literacy program.
National Book Lovers Day related content
Buy a Book Day
Buy a Book Day champions the enduring power of reading and supports the literary world every September 7. This day encourages everyone to invest in a new book, fostering a love for reading and supporting authors and publishers. Dive into a new story, explore a new topic, and help keep the culture of reading vibrant.
See MoreTraditions
Books, books, and more books! Traditions for the day are all about books! Some of the many traditions of National Book Lovers Day include taking advantage of the great discounts on paperbacks, having a book haul, starting a new book, reading a new genre, donating books, encouraging others to read, and reading a book adaption of a movie you like.
Authors and publishers host questions and answers sessions, either in-person or online. New excerpts are also released from books coming soon. Online book communities like Goodreads are extra active today, and aesthetically pleasing pictures of books grace our newsfeeds on social media sites.
National Book Lovers Day By The Numbers
1,207,937 – the number of reading sessions started on Bookly in the past year.
8.27 – the number of books per person by which book sales fell in 2001.
359,803 – the number of books and e-books added on Bookly between 2019 and 2020.
16,555 – the number of audiobooks added on Bookly between 2019 and 2020.
909,394 – the number of reading sessions started by female users on Bookly between 2019 and 2020.
350,485 – the number of reading sessions started by male users on Bookly between 2019 and 2020.
25–34 – the ages between which the most books are read.
80 million – the number of active users on the popular book site Goodreads.
24% – the percentage of American adults who have not read a book in 2018.
6 – the number of books by Dr. Seuss that rank among the top 20 bestselling children’s books of all time.
National Book Lovers Day FAQs
When is National Book Lovers Day?
National Book Lovers Day 2026 falls on Sunday, August 9. It’s a perfect opportunity to spend a relaxing weekend day immersed in a great book.
How many books do Americans read annually?
According to various surveys, the average American reads approximately 12 to 15 books per year. This figure often includes both physical books and digital formats like e-books and audiobooks.
What are the benefits of reading?
Reading offers numerous benefits, including improved vocabulary and writing skills, enhanced critical thinking, and reduced stress. It also provides a unique form of escapism and can broaden one’s understanding of different cultures and perspectives.
What's the difference between an e-reader and a tablet?
An e-reader, like a Kindle or Kobo, is specifically designed for reading, typically featuring an e-ink screen that mimics paper and is easy on the eyes. It prioritizes battery life and portability for dedicated reading.
National Book Lovers Day Activities
Visit your local library
Public libraries have been around since the Middle Ages. But back in those days, books were often chained to the bookcases to prevent theft. On National Book Lovers Day, reconnect with the past by browsing the shelves at your local library. Bonus points if you pick a book off the shelf, find a cozy nook and read it right there at the library.
Make as many literary references as possible
National Book Lovers Day is a day of great expectations. It's not a quixotic task to make as many literary references as possible. If you manage to reference at least 10 books, you deserve a red badge of courage.
Participate in a book exchange
What better way to celebrate National Book Lovers Day than by trading an old favorite with a friend in exchange for something new? Better yet, get a few friends together for a group book exchange. Before handing off your book, share a few words about what that book means to you.
5 Things Every Bibliophile Agrees With!
Best gift ever!
A book is the best present that someone can give you on your birthday
The book was better
The book will always be better, no matter how faithful the movie adaption is.
No fancy bookmarks here
Anything can be a bookmark if you are creative enough.
Lost in translation
Bibliophiles take time to recover from the stories they have been immersed in, especially if there is a death of their favorite fictional character!
Books that don’t get returned!
People who borrow books and never return them are the bane of a bibliophile’s existence!
Why We Love National Book Lovers Day
Books connect us to the universe
American novelist James Baldwin said it best: "You think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." Books help us understand each other, feel less alone, and put our complex emotions into words.
Books let us escape the limits of time and space
Books are powerful. They're the only medium that can transport us through time and space — into the past, present, future, and faraway worlds — galaxies away. We don't even have to leave our couch or change out of our pajamas!
The book Is (usually) better than the movie
Can you think of many movies that break this rule? Screenplays often simplify subtle complexities of the book and sadly, in many cases, the original author may have very little input. Go to the movies? No, thanks. We'd rather read a book! At least on National Book Lovers Day.
Social Media Tips for National Book Lovers Day
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