ESL Questions Books
Books
75 discussion questions about books for ESL learners at every level. Great for speaking practice, book clubs, and conversation lessons.
Beginner
Do you like reading books?
What is your favourite book?
How many books do you read in a year?
Do you prefer reading at home or somewhere else?
What kind of books do you like — stories, facts, or something else?
Did you read a lot as a child?
Who gave you your first book?
Do you have books at home? How many?
What is the last book you read?
Do you have a library card?
Do you prefer short books or long books?
Do you buy books or borrow them?
Do you read before bed?
What is a book you read at school?
Do you ever give books as a gift?
Can you name a famous author from your country?
Do you like books with pictures?
Do you read books in other languages?
What is the best book you read this year?
Do you have a favourite place to read?
Do you like reading on a phone or tablet?
What do you do when a book is boring?
Do you talk about books with your friends?
Is there a book you have read more than once?
What makes a book good, in your opinion?
Intermediate
Do you think reading books is more valuable than watching films? Why?
How has a book changed the way you think about something?
Would you rather read fiction or non-fiction? What draws you to that?
Do you think e-books will completely replace printed books one day?
What kind of books do you think children should read at school?
Have you ever abandoned a book halfway through? What made you stop?
Do you judge a book by its cover? Be honest.
How important is it for schools to have well-stocked libraries?
Would you rather read a book or listen to the audiobook version?
Is there a book you think everyone should read at least once?
How do you choose your next book to read?
Do you think reading fiction helps you understand real people better?
Have you ever read a book that made you cry or laugh out loud?
What is the difference between a book you enjoy and a book that stays with you?
Do you think social media has made people read less?
Would you like to write a book someday? What would it be about?
Is it better to own books or borrow them from a library?
How do book clubs work, and would you ever join one?
Do you think translated books lose something from the original?
Has a book ever made you want to travel somewhere or try something new?
Should schools assign classic literature, or let students choose what they read?
Do you think a book is always better than its film adaptation?
What do you think makes an author’s writing style stand out?
How do you feel about books that deal with difficult or dark topics?
Is reading alone enough, or do you need to discuss a book to fully appreciate it?
Advanced
To what extent can literature shape public opinion and political thought?
Is the novel as a form still relevant in the age of short-form digital content?
How do you evaluate the claim that reading fiction builds empathy?
Should publishers have a responsibility to diversify the authors they promote?
What are the implications of algorithmic book recommendations for cultural diversity?
Can a book be considered great if its author held reprehensible views?
How does the censorship of books reflect the values — and fears — of a society?
To what degree does a reader’s background determine how they interpret a text?
Is there still a meaningful distinction between literary fiction and genre fiction?
How has self-publishing changed the relationship between writers and readers?
What does the decline of physical bookshops tell us about modern consumer culture?
Should schools teach students how to read critically, not just extensively?
How do you assess the role of memoir and autobiography in shaping public narratives?
Is it possible for a book written in one culture to be fully understood by another?
What are the risks of reading only within your own worldview and comfort zone?
How has the concept of authorship changed in a world of AI-generated text?
Should books that were written in a different era be edited to remove offensive content?
What does it mean for a book to be ‘timeless’, and do you think that quality is real?
How do you think the book industry will look in twenty years?
Is there a tension between reading for pleasure and reading to improve yourself?
To what extent do prize lists like the Booker Prize shape what gets read and valued?
What responsibilities, if any, does an author have towards the reader?
How do you explain the enduring appeal of dystopian fiction in uncertain times?
Should reading be promoted as a civic duty, not just a personal hobby?
If you had to defend the value of reading to someone who never reads, what would you say?