Around 54% of adults read at a 6th grade level or below: https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy Ba

Around 54% of adults read at a 6th grade level or below: https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy Based on this, you could reach both of these conclusions: 1. Most literary fiction is inaccessible to the average adult. 2. It's a big problem that even moderately complex novels are inaccessible to the average adult. The first statement (which I think is where you're coming from) is absolutely true. If you want to write a very popular book, it should be easily readable at a 6th grade level. The second statement is more a statement of values. Some people (such as myself) find it problematic that the average adult can't read/understand a book that is more complex than Harry Potter. You don't have to agree with the second statement. A lot of people don't. But I think understanding why someone might find that problematic is important. Personally, I think there are a lot of things worth knowing that can't be written at a 6th grade level.