Theo James says reading books helps him to stay grounded.

The 30-year-old actor admits he recently decided ''to f**king look at less'' on the Internet because he started to perceive himself differently and relies on novels to distract himself.

Asked if he ever reads about himself, the 'Golden Boy' star said: ''Everyone says it is the cardinal sin, but you inevitably do it by accident all the time, or you may see it on a newsstand or whatever. You end up forming a perception of yourself based on other people's opinions; a perception outside your own self, which is a f**king mind f**k because you start perceiving yourself as something that you aren't.''

But the 'Insurgent' star says books help him to prevent the perceptions from affecting him.

He told Flaunt magazine: ''Read more. Read every time you go to bed, read in the day - because at least reading a book, you can't be distracted by anything else.''

Meanwhile, Theo says he will never join Twitter or Instagram because he hates feeling ''exposed.''

He said: ''Other actors I know are really good at it and they rock and roll it, but it's not for me.

''I'm glad there's not much information. I don't think I'd want to share those elements of my private life.

''I just like being present.''

The British star also tries to avoid using Google.

He explained: ''Most of the information is completely useless and it's totally mind numbing, because it doesn't actually add anything to your sense of self. And interacting singularly with an interface--there's a limited amount of learning that can be experienced.''