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46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023
- chasebank 3y agoThat’s it? I would have guessed much higher.
- rfarley04 3y agoBut all my friends on Goodreads are claiming to finish a book a week Are... Are they LYING?? No one lies on the internet. EDIT: Wow I guess I hit a, nerve. Sorry folks. I use Goodreads and finish about a book a month. So I don't think a book a week is unreasonable/impossible. I just meant to allude to the fact that the platform has gotten a lot of attention for review bombing and profile manipulation. Anyways, here is some data (not MAU, to be fair) about US stats: https://www.goodreads.com/book/most_read?category=all&country=US&duration=y https://www.goodreads.com/book/most_read?category=all&countr...
- mckn1ght 3y agoHow many friends do you have?
- rpncreator 3y agoAudiobooks, my friend.
- patrickmay 3y agoI finish about a book a week, reading a couple of hours a night before sleep. It's not unreasonable.
- pavlov 3y agoI’m all for reading, but a couple of hours every night is a very big time investment. People with children are often lucky to have 30 minutes for themselves.
- bowsamic 3y agoMy mum is on that rate when she's not super busy, so I don't think that's a lie. Some people read like machines
- abtinf 3y agoThere was span of a couple years when I had to commute ~3 hours per day. I easily completed 1-2 audiobooks per week. But more to your point, what percentage of the population do you think is active on goodreads? I can't find any MAU numbers for them, just total membership numbers. Regardless, it is a self-selecting audience. Much like if you go to a theater to see the latest garbage marvel movie, the people in that theater are probably very likely to have seen other marvel movies in the theater recently too.
- NineStarPoint 3y agoOr, perhaps, the sort of person who spends time on a website centered around reading is unsurprisingly in the top percentiles of reading amount.
- Detrytus 3y agoSelf-selection: Goodreads main function is to recommend a next book to read to people who like reading. No wonder Goodreads users read more than an average American.
- egypturnash 3y agoI know this is humor but: a. the original poll this article is based on says that 1% of the US population reads 50+ books a week; 1% of 3.3*10^8 people is still a lot of people. b. some books are much easier to read than others, are your friends just kicking back once a week with a competently-written potboiler in a genre they've been reading half their life, or are they reading one abstruse 800-page tome after another? Or are they reading kid's books to a child in their life? Lying's certainly a possibility too, but so's marking something as "read" when you actually abandoned it somewhere before the end - and that's a spectrum too; when I read Pynchon's "Mason & Dixon" I abandoned it about ten pages before the end but I'd still say I "read" it. If I'd only gotten ten pages in I wouldn't say that.
- fullspectrumdev 3y agoI get through an average novel in 1-2 days, either in dead tree or ebook format on my phone.
- onos 3y agoAuthor not an optimist I guess. Better to say 54% of Americans read a book in 2023!
- IshKebab 3y agoYeah surprisingly high! I suspect some of them are lying. I haven't read a book for a few years. Don't have time. I don't think it's a big deal.
- Maxion 3y agoUh, why not link to the actual YouGov poll rather than the blogspam? Here: https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-percent-of-americans-read-a-book-this-year https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-per...
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- okamiueru 3y agoA lot higher than what I had thought. If only around 20% of Americans read a book, any book, within the ages 18-29, maybe the ranges outside of it make up for it?
- fisherjeff 3y agoCrosstabs are here - it’s surprisingly consistent across age groups: https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_pJolTxJ.pdf#page124 https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabRepor...
- okamiueru 3y agoIt very much contradicts what I said earlier. Don't remember the source. The only difference is that this also includes listening to audio-books. 53% in 2023, for 18-29 year-old, according to your source. Thanks for the correction.
- dilawar 3y agoGlass is (slightly more than) half full!
- arnaudsm 3y agoWhy do we obsess so much over legacy form factors? Watching movies, listening to 2h conference talks, playing a 60h narrative videogame, and reading scientific papers in PDF may not be as noble, but they are equally meaningful to me.
- Extropy_ 3y agoBecause most of the great intellectual works exist in these "legacy form factors."
- arnaudsm 3y agoOf the past yes, but what about the present and future?
- netsharc 3y agoIt's all on Instagram and TikTok! /S
- olddustytrail 3y agoWell, can you name a computer game that is a great artistic work? There are many that are good, but I can't say there are any that are on a par with, say, "The Lord of the Rings" or "War and Peace" or "1984". I'd love to hear of one that was though.
- TheCleric 3y agoI agree with you for the most part, but I do think there are games that are truly works of art. That Dragon Cancer immediately comes to mind.
- shikshake 3y agoThere are many innovative and critically acclaimed titles in the independent game scene, though they are obviously judged on different criteria by taking advantage of the interactive medium. Inside, Disco Elysium, and Kentucky Route Zero, just to name a few. Mainstream gaming is still getting there, but to me titles like The Last of Us Part 2 are on par with classic HBO shows like Six Feet Under.
- hirvi74 3y agoI was one of them. =/ It wasn't only last year either. EDIT: people are counting scientific journals, articles, etc. so, I'm good there, but not a book, from cover to cover, in years.
- earthwalker99 3y agotoo busy trying to pay the bills
- silveira 3y agoAnd worst than that, I wonder about the quality of the books for the other 54%. Reading a book by itself is not a virtue.
- brvsft 3y ago> ...visions of Benjamin Franklin danced in my head...
- freedomben 3y agoOn a side note, Benjamin Franklin is a wildly fascinating person. I highly recommend Walter Isaacon's biography of him. One of the most interesting (in a good way) humans I know of. I think most people would be surprised at how well they can relate to a man who lived in the 18th century. Check out his humorous essay on farting[1] if you want to laugh. [1]: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/to-the-royal-academy-of-farting/ https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/to-the-royal-ac...
- RajT88 3y agoAgree. I have a friend who, to put it kindly, is more brawn than brain. Voracious reader. Dozens of books a year, all swords & sorcery. Not really anything he could learn from.
- rebeccaskinner 3y agoAs someone who listens to a _lot_ of audio books, I'll admit that the majority of them are quite entertaining but are definitely not worth vaunting over other forms of entertainment. Most of the more intellectually demanding reading I do tends to not even come from books, but rather from things like academic papers, blog posts, and long form articles.
- raincole 3y agoI'm quite sure even before the internet has been a thing, most people only read cookbooks, car/sport magazines and Twilight equivalents by the time.
- plasma_beam 3y ago46% didn’t read a book, or didn’t finish a book? There’s a distinction between the two, and I’m in the latter. Have several unfinished at the moment. I don’t feel guilty though, I read all day, busy job, young kids, life. By the time I sit down to read a book, I’m head nodding within minutes. I look forward to retirement some day.
- abtinf 3y agoThis is the source study and a much better overview: https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-percent-of-americans-read-a-book-this-year https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-per... And that also links to the real data. Toplines: https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econtoplines_FBzrwMv.pdf https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econtoplines... Crosstabs: https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_pJolTxJ.pdf https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabRepor... 49% of Americans read at least 2 books.
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- abtinf 3y agoPages 124, 130, and 131 of the crosstab are fascinating. From page 124, the 4 indicators that you probably read a book are Race (white), Income (100k+), Voter registration status (registered), and party/ideology (not a centrist).
- lapcat 3y agoYes, this is much more informative. The real separation is college degrees. Only 27% with a college degree read no books, whereas 56% with no college degree read no books. Once you get into 1+ book categories, the degree separation is much smaller.
- bowsamic 3y ago[flagged]
- wslh 3y agoIs there more data than that? Such as how other countries measure or how much people read online?
- bmitc 3y agoI don't fully place the blame on people. Lack of investment in edication and infrastructure and other social support structures means people are robbed of time, relaxation, stress free financial and healthcare situations, etc. There's also addictions to smarphones, tablets, and video games due to lax regulation and unbridled capitalism. The lack of reading is a symptom.
- abetusk 3y agoHere is a more in depth article which presumably is interpreting the same statistics [0]. Note that mystery, crime, romance and history were among the top genres. I would venture that many more Americans watch mystery, crime, romance and history shows than the 46%. To me, this borders on trying to draw conclusions from sensationalist titles like "only 10% of all Americans listen to the town cryer for news". There are other forms of media that people use to consume information or entertainment. [0] https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-percent-of-americans-read-a-book-this-year https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-per...
- otachack 3y agoIf anyone is struggling to read a book, I suggest short stories! A lot easier to ease back into it.
- tayo42 3y agoI'd add in young adult too. Enders game was good and an easy read.
- voidfunc 3y agoI'm part of this club, actually I haven't read a book in about a decade and a half. _shrug_
- Mistletoe 3y agoAnd I think a large percentage of the 54% are lying because they are embarrassed to say it. Very few of the people I know read any books at all.
- dvt 3y agoI'm not sure how I feel about conflating audio-book consumption with reading. In my experience, when I listen to a book it goes in one ear and out the other; any studies that show information retention between the two?
- TillE 3y agoOf course you have to actually listen. Audiobooks are fantastic when you're driving or washing dishes or doing any kind of manual work. They're pointless if you're trying to read something else with your eyes at the same time, or if you're otherwise distracted. With those caveats, I have zero difficulty absorbing an audiobook. The only thing I'd say is that the narrator's performance definitely colors your impression of the book, for better or worse or just...different.
- sandworm101 3y agoLooking at the list of bestsellers, I'm not upset that so many do not read. (Yes, Britney Spears is still on the NYT list. I checked so you don't have to.)
- abtinf 3y agoMy understanding is that book bestseller lists are essentially just opinions, e.g. NYT has a select list of book stores they contact to gather sales information. There are no industry-wide sales metrics, unlike the music industry. From what I've read, this is why you never see Christian literature on the top seller lists. The Christian publishing industry is absolutely massive and would consistently dominate any objective top sellers list.
- bemusedthrow75 3y agoNot an American. I read a lot but I can't think of a book I read last year. I don't think "didn't read a book" is that useful for inference about imagination, literacy, education etc., unless it's also matched by watching an enormous amount of linear or episodic television. "Didn't read a book" might, however, be a meaningful proxy for shorter attention spans. I think it could be in my case, even though I read voraciously.
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- maximus-decimus 3y agoI have a hard time believing 54% did read a book. 18% of the U.S. population is functionally illiterate, and I don't know for you, I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer.
- hiq 3y ago> I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer. Have you tried before spending your whole day at your computer?
- brvsft 3y agoSame. As with all self-reported data, expected some lying shame-driven responses. I also found myself having a lot less time to read after having a child. I've only started again this year because I feel like doomscrolling in bed is not the best way to fall asleep.
- fifilura 3y agoSadly, I agree with you. Between work and kids it just has to go. I am also blessed with no sleeping problems which means that I fall asleep the moment i go to bed. I try to read at least one book per year during vacation. I read so much when I was younger. I am not certain I will get the habit back when I get older.
- mattlondon 3y agoSame. Can't say I miss it, either. Reading a book at this stage in my life (busy with kids) feels self-indulgent and selfish.
- pavel_lishin 3y agoAnd yet, you gotta take time for yourself, too, lest you burn out.
- therealdrag0 3y agoWhy not read with your kids?
- Scubabear68 3y agoI have found a high correlation in my life between book reading and general happiness. When I am in a period when I am reading books regularly, I am generally happy. Things are going well, I have good life balance. When I go a stretch without reading books, I am generally stressed out and in burnout mode at work, and home life is not great. Note - this is generally fiction. I read very little non fiction. Note 2 - most people I know have no books in evidence in their homes. Maybe they read Kindle or other ebooks? But I think many simply do not read recreationally.
- zeekaran 3y agoI'm in the minority but I moved so many times that when I finally got a Kindle I just gave away every book I owned so I didn't have to haul hundreds of pounds of dead tree. Now I manage a calibre server.
- fullspectrumdev 3y agoUsually my reading rate of fiction increases dramatically when depressed. Reading is, for me, a better form of pure escapism than gaming or movies.
- interbased 3y agoI feel the same way. I think part of it that I’m not being drained by doomscrolling and instead, engaging my brain in a positive way. Another part is knowing that I’m using my time in a way that I value. I feel inspired. Like going to the gym, it’s easy to go a long stretch without reading once you stop, and fall into effortless habits again.
- mythrwy 3y agoI'm in the 46% that didn't read a book in 2023. But I probably read 3 or 4 hours (or more) a day. I used to read lots of books before the internet but the internet mostly replaced it. There are a few perspectives one can take. Maybe (probably) attention spans, including mine, have decreased with the internet. On the other hand, many non fiction books could be summed up in pamphlet and are full of filler. It's not necessarily a badge of honor to trudge through repetition and filler for hours to grasp core concepts.
- xnx 3y agoAgree. I read more than ever, but it is extremely rare that a topic warrants hundreds of pages. The book form factor is dictated by what the market accepts and will pay for. It is rarely the best form for the material which would likely benefit from editing for length and addition of full color illustration.
- jeffreportmill1 3y agoAnd another 28% lied about it. I regularly ask people “Read any good books lately?”, half as a joke. Nine out ten people just stare at me blankly.
- godDLL 3y agoEh, this is poll data, is it not? So it's more like 46% admits they did not. You got to adjust for shame and such. I'd bet it's up to twice as much in practice, that is 92% did not actually open a book. I'll give you that 46% do not own one, that sounds reasonable.
- nytesky 3y agoI would love to read a book, but between working and kids there’s just very little time for reading. When I was younger, I would read while exercising on stationary bike But my eyes can’t really do that anymore. I do listen to several audiobooks a year, that I listen to while I do chores or drive.
- zeekaran 3y agoRead to your kids!
- nytesky 3y agoDo audiobooks count?
- zeekaran 3y agoThey really should
- bun_terminator 3y agohaving the time to read is such an incredible luxury in these economic times. I haven't done that in 5 years at least. Too busy trying to think of ways to prevent me from living under a bridge when I'm 60
- djkivi 3y ago“Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” ― Albert Einstein
- chfalck 3y agoThis quote is always mildly irritating. Einstein was the mental equivalent of an Olympic athlete with multiple gold medals. That man was so far disconnected from the mental limitations of average people that some quotes don’t hold much value because they’re created in context of his experience. I work in a creatively challenging job, and I’m mentally wasted after a full day sometimes, to the point that anything I create is hot garbage until I rest and change my focus. I’ll read my books and play my games thank you kindly.
- justin66 3y agoI think we can all agree that Americans who don't read are on a path that Einstein would have advocated.
- tmaly 3y agoI read about a book a month usually. I wonder what that looks like in the breakout.
- faeriechangling 3y agoPeople are lying about how much they do read books, and for me, it's not that books are bad but books simply have more competition than they used to. There are multiple history podcasts, some of which are made by actual historians, which go for hundreds of episodes. It might not be "reading a book" but I really fail to see the big difference between that and an audiobook. Except that it's cheaper/easier/better than using Audiobooks. I listen to lectures about health from doctors. Casually listening to a lecture simply wasn't something you could just do not so long ago. Is listening to a 2 hour lecture summarising information about a health topic I'm interested in worse than reading books? I now have access to medical papers which used to be gate-kept by Elsevier with the complicity of higher education. Nowadays it seems like the vast majority of research papers are publicly accessible. Is reading scientific papers worse than reading books? Maybe I should be paying Audible a subscription fee so that people think I'm erudite though. I don't think there's anything wrong with books but people fetishise them.
- justin66 3y ago> People are lying about how much they do read books Whoa nellie.
- add-sub-mul-div 3y agoIf a statistic sounds counterintuitive or makes you uncomfortable, just declare it a lie and move on! That seems to be the new standard.
- emj 3y ago> Is x,y,z worse than reading books? [..] People fetishise them. If you chose not to read books yes it is worse. There are many books you can read that will give you a massive amount of information about a subject, not only hard facts but soft philosophical issues. I've experienced The Trail by Kafka as radio/play/movie/book, it is amazingly good as a book. I do not care if you do not think the same or if you can not experience the same thing as I can when I read books. I do not want you to deprive others of that feeling though.
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- poisonborz 3y agoReading books as a metric of intelligence in today's world is overrated. Most of society is not only exposed to, but is engaging with massively more information compared to even the intelligentsia of the 1800s, not to mention preceding eras. Long narratives have many benefits, still they represent just one aspect of knowledge transfer. Book as a format is still relevant, but in a much narrower field than before.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]