How To Talk About Books You Haven’t Read by Pierre Bayard

What does it mean to say you have ‘read’ a book? If you can’t remember anything about it or even whether you have ever read it, in what sense of the word can you be said to have ‘read’ it? On the other hand, if you know a lot about a book from, say, a friend telling you about it or from reviews or wherever, then how can you be said not to have ‘read’ it? Especially when compared to the first book? Don’t be put off by the silly title. Although playful at times, this is a serious, even a profound, look at this strange business of ‘reading a book’.