SMU Associate Professor of English Literature Kirpal Singh shared his views on an inaugural study on reading habits by the National Library Board. The study showed that fewer than six in 10 of the people who read at least once a week picked up fiction. On Singaporeans' seeming lack of interest in fiction, Associate Professor Singh felt that it is "worrying". He said: "Life is more than just being practical, and reading fiction stimulates one's imagination, with the fun, wit and humour in it." He also added that even though many people do read the news, they tend to scan through it rather than reading in depth, citing his students as an example.