A sheep, in the book industry, is a person who buys a book without reading it, or after reading only a small amount. They do this because they want to support the author, or they believe that they will enjoy the book based on its cover, or because they trust the author’s past work. Sometimes, people buy a book and don’t read it because they think it will make them look smarter.
A sheep, in literary terms, is a reader who uncritically accepts what they read and does not question or engage with the text. The term is often used in a negative way, to describe someone who is not critical enough.
Sheep are often seen as followers, and this is reflected in their reading habits. They do not question what they read, but simply take it at face value. This can be problematic, as it means that sheep are not engaging with the text on a deeper level.
This is not to say that all readers who do not question what they read are sheep. There are many reasons why someone might not engage with a text critically, including time constraints, lack of interest, or simply not knowing how to do so. However, if someone consistently fails to engage with texts critically, they may be considered a sheep.
There are a few ways to avoid being a sheep when reading. One is to be aware of your own biases and to question whether or not you are allowing them to influence your interpretation of the text. Another is to seek out alternative interpretations of the text, either from other readers or from experts on the subject. Finally, it is important to be willing to change your interpretation of the text if new evidence arises.
While being a sheep can be problematic, it is also important to remember that there is value in simply enjoying a text for what it is. Not every reader needs to be a critic, and not every text needs to be analyzed to death. Sometimes, it is enough to just sit back and enjoy the story.