Fear of books (bibliophobia)

Bibliophobia is a fear of books, which can take in the books themselves, reading aloud, or being tested on what you have read. For some it links back to struggles at school, while for others it shows up as anxiety about libraries, long reading lists or certain kinds of book.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek biblion, meaning book, also found in bibliography and bibliophile. It is uncommon as a clinical fear and is often used loosely to mean disliking or distrusting books rather than a true phobia. It has also been used for fear of what books contain, such as unwelcome ideas.

What it feels like

• Tension or dread when asked to read aloud in front of others
• Avoiding libraries, bookshops or long reading tasks
• Feeling overwhelmed by full shelves or a long reading list

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Can bibliophobia be linked to dyslexia?

It can. People who found reading hard at school, including those whose dyslexia was not spotted at the time, sometimes carry anxiety about books into adult life. If reading has always been a struggle, an assessment for dyslexia can be a helpful first step.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices