Hmmm, I'm afraid I found this a disturbing read, and I'm concerned with how much projection influenced this dystopian concept of reading. I read, on average, 60 books a year, and all of my friends and acquaintances read just as much as I do, if not more. I don't know of anyone who "fakes" reading.

I know a hell of a lot of well-read people, well-read enough to have deep discussions about books with, but I've never met someone fain reading. I've also never discussed a book I've never read - my ignorance would give me away, that would be humiliating.

Though I have found many people who "think" they know the book (but have never read it) know much less about the book than they think they do. Perhaps being in academic circles makes a difference, but if this is your reality, I'd be more concerned with normalising this practice and accepting it as being part of my daily life. I would reconsider the company I keep if I were exposed to such people.