Reading for pleasure has dropped by 40%. Find your genre and book friends to bring it back, experts say

The proportion of Americans who reported reading for pleasure on a given day fell from 28 percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2023, representing a sustained decline of approximately 3 percent per year throughout the study period.</span

University College London

The New York Times

The proportion of Americans who reported reading for pleasure on a given day fell from 28 percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2023, representing a sustained decline of approximately 3 percent per year throughout the study period.

The study revealed significant demographic disparities, with steeper declines among Black Americans compared to White Americans, people with lower income or educational attainment, and those in rural versus metropolitan areas.</span

Fox 28 Spokane

University of Florida

The study revealed significant demographic disparities, with steeper declines among Black Americans compared to White Americans, people with lower income or educational attainment, and those in rural versus metropolitan areas.

In 2023, highly educated people were more than twice as likely to read for pleasure as the least educated, and high-income people were about 1.5 times as likely to read as low-income people, with these disparities widening over time.</span

ABC News

In 2023, highly educated people were more than twice as likely to read for pleasure as the least educated, and high-income people were about 1.5 times as likely to read as low-income people, with these disparities widening over time.

The research found that while more than 20 percent of survey participants had children under 9 years old, only 2 percent reported reading with children on an average day, a finding that remained largely unchanged throughout the study period.</span

The research found that while more than 20 percent of survey participants had children under 9 years old, only 2 percent reported reading with children on an average day, a finding that remained largely unchanged throughout the study period.

The study was published in the journal iScience and defined reading broadly to encompass books, magazines and newspapers in print, electronic or audio form, with researchers noting that those who do read spend more time doing so, averaging more than 90 minutes daily.</span

The study was published in the journal iScience and defined reading broadly to encompass books, magazines and newspapers in print, electronic or audio form, with researchers noting that those who do read spend more time doing so, averaging more than 90 minutes daily.

Reading habits are simply evolving with the times, and popular genres like romance, fantasy and mystery are actually experiencing surges in popularity through book clubs and social media discussions. Whatever format people choose - audiobooks, e-books or traditional print - can provide cognitive benefits and stress relief. The key is finding what works for each person and building community around shared reading experiences rather than lamenting cultural shifts.

Reading habits are simply evolving with the times, and popular genres like romance, fantasy and mystery are actually experiencing surges in popularity through book clubs and social media discussions. Whatever format people choose - audiobooks, e-books or traditional print - can provide cognitive benefits and stress relief. The key is finding what works for each person and building community around shared reading experiences rather than lamenting cultural shifts.

US Reading for Pleasure Drops 40% Over Two Decades

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US Reading for Pleasure Drops 40% Over Two Decades

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