People who were bookworms as children develop these 12 traits as adults

Did you read a lot as a kid?

A person with long red hair and a thoughtful expression is reading a blue book. They are wearing a mustard yellow top, and the background is softly blurred.

When you were a kid, you likely had some peers who always had their noses in books. They got in trouble with teachers for reading in class, and read under their covers with flashlights well after bedtime. Well, those kids grew into adults who generally share the following traits.

1. They still read voraciously.

A person is reading a red book while reclining on a brown couch. They are wearing jeans and a brown sweater. In the foreground, there is a wooden round table with several books, one of which is open. The room has a cozy and relaxed atmosphere.

Those who were bookworms as children inevitably remain voracious readers when they reach adulthood. The love of reading that they developed early on in life simply intensifies as they get older. Many of them will have extensive libraries, and just about all of them will set aside reading time daily.

2. They have extensive vocabularies.

A man wearing glasses and a light blazer speaks animatedly in a meeting, holding a pen. Two colleagues, a man in a blue shirt and tie, and a woman in glasses and a striped shirt, listen attentively in the background.

Those who read a lot as children often kept a dictionary (or app) close at hand to be able to look up words they were unfamiliar with. As such, they developed vocabularies far beyond their grade level. In adulthood, they’re likely to use more obscure words like “obstreperous” or “metanoia” in casual conversation.

3. They find comfort in silent solitude.

A woman with shoulder-length blond hair and glasses is smiling while looking to the side. She has her hand resting under her chin. She is indoors, with a blurred background that includes soft tones of yellow and pink.

Most avid bookworms have difficulty reading in chaotic environments: it’s far more comfortable to read in near silence, or with ambient sound such as a crackling fire. Those who read a great deal growing up are rarely uncomfortable with silence, as it’s the foundation for their greatest, and most beloved passion.

4. They can empathize with others.

A person in a light blue shirt sits with a thoughtful expression and hands clasped near their face. Another person with long hair leans in from behind, gently embracing them and offering comfort. The scene suggests a moment of emotional support and empathy.

When a person reads another’s story—even if it’s fictional—they put themselves into that character’s shoes and empathize with their experiences. This translates very well to real life, because they’re able to understand the difficulties that those around them may be facing, even if they’ve never experienced them firsthand.

5. They have an excellent memory.

A woman smiles towards the camera, holding a memory card next to her head. Her makeup is subtle, and her hair is styled in loose waves. She wears a ring on her left hand's ring finger. The image conveys a playful concept of data storage or memory.

Most childhood bookworms end up having fantastic memories as adults. After all, with every book they read they had to remember a new cast of characters, as well as location names, events that were unfolding, and clues that helped them figure out mysteries. Remembering all these details can build strong, healthy neural networks!

6. They build up a wide spectrum of knowledge.

A person with curly hair and glasses is intensely focused on writing in a notebook, surrounded by stacks of books on a wooden table, suggesting a studious or academic setting.

Bookworm kids often inhale novels and works of non-fiction in a wide variety of different genres. By adulthood, they undoubtedly amassed a startling amount of knowledge: they may be as well-versed in linguistics as they are in paleontology, and can also rattle off a full list of literary characters and the plants that inhabit their respective worlds.

7. They have honed their ability to focus.

A man in glasses and a dark blazer leans forward, intently looking at a computer monitor. A notebook and a coffee mug sit on the desk. The background is softly lit, with shelves and a plant visible.

We live in a jolts-per-minute era in which many people need constant dopamine hits to remain engaged in anything. Furthermore, they may get bored and check out if they have to read anything longer than 50 characters. In contrast, childhood bookworms can remain focused and immersed for hours at a time.

8. They possess excellent writing skills.

A close-up of a hand holding a pen and writing on a spiral-bound notebook. The scene is set outdoors with soft sunlight, and a blurred background featuring a person sitting on a bench and buildings in the distance.

Most of us are influenced on some level by the media we consume. As such, those who have been avid readers since early childhood often draw from the books they’ve devoured to influence their own writing. This generally results in excellent writing and storytelling skills, leading many bookworms to careers as authors or journalists.

9. They are confident in discussing a wide range of topics.

A person with short hair, wearing a blue collared shirt, stands in a library, reading a book. They are surrounded by tall shelves filled with books.

Since they’ve immersed themselves in various subjects for many years, they’re quite confident with the knowledge they’ve amassed and can easily discuss it with others. Even those who may feel shy or socially awkward will often come out of their shells and shine when their niche interests are being discussed.

10. They prefer to communicate via text rather than verbally.

A man sits at a café table, engrossed in his smartphone. The table holds a cup of coffee, a glass of water, an ashtray, a small potted plant, and another glass. Sunlight fills the room through large windows in the background.

Those who read a great deal as children tend to be more comfortable with the written word in adulthood than they are with verbal communication. As such, they tend to prefer to discuss things with others via text (or even handwritten letters) than having discussions—either over the phone, or in person.

11. They are often hypersensitive to sound.

A close-up image of a person inserting an orange earplug into their ear. The earplug is being held between the thumb and index finger. The person has light-colored hair.

Reading requires concentration and immersion, and avid childhood readers often get startled or annoyed by noises around them. This can evolve into hypersensitivity to sound in adulthood. As a result, many of them prefer soft, quiet environments and seriously dislike (or even feel pain from) noises such as banging or beeping.

12. The ability to envision things easily (i.e. a vivid visual imagination).

A surreal image of a hot air balloon with a rainbow-colored balloon and a basket, topped with a black bowler hat. The balloon is positioned above a headless shirt against a cloudy sky, creating an imaginative scene.

Someone once described the act of reading as: “staring at slices of marked tree for hours on end, hallucinating vividly”. People who were bookworms as children developed powerful visual imaginations, which allow them to “see” things easily in their mind’s eye—a skill that’s invaluable for countless different career paths and life experiences.