The latest findings on American literacy are troubling, and not just for educators and authors:
The number of Americans who read for pleasure has fallen by 40%, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Florida and University College London have found that between 2003 and 2023, daily reading for reasons other than work and study fell by about 3% each year.
Many causes contribute to this unsettling trend. More “how to” advice is presented in the form of videos rather than text. Often, when you’re trying to read a news story online, pop-up videos vie for your attention. Video games, with their numbing sound effects and over-the-top visuals, offer seductive, but mindless, distraction. How are books to compete?
And again, the effects are far-reaching. Written language is the bedrock of an advanced civilization. The wisdom of past generations boosts the available information to the present generation, freeing us from having to re-invent the wheel.
Just as important, language binds us to one another, helping us see ourselves in context. Reading stories opens our eyes, letting us see we’re not alone facing problems.
Finally, each of us is a story, a cohesive narrative that makes sense of our memories, good and bad, as well as our aspirations. Lacking that narrative, we fall apart. Little wonder so many people feel isolated, disconnected, not just from others, but from themselves. When children agonize about being born in the wrong body, they’re yearning for a cohesive identity, which helps define purpose.
A culture that actively promotes atomizing society into disjointed, isolated individuals needs medical attention. The humanizing power of language is just what the doctor ordered.
Reading cultivates imagination; one “sees” the scenes described in one’s mind. That doesn’t happen with stories told on a screen.
Exactly. Watching a screen is completely passive.
Both my sons got into reading via graphic novels.
Reading Marvel Comics when I was a kid definitely boosted my vocabulary. Mixing imaginative stories with dynamic artwork is a great way to introduce kids to reading.
Excellent blog, Mike. It’s too true.
Sad but true. Here’s hoping we can turn this around.
Parents who grow up not reading don’t tend to foster that skill, and know with most kids growing up with screens as the go-to, it will be a tough task.
No doubt a lot of damage has already been done to the present and future generations. Hopefully we can turn this beast around.
I pity people who don’t read. You can never get bored with a good book. I encouraged my children to read—by buying books and reading aloud—and I’m thrilled that my grandchildren are also bookworms. There is nothing like browsing in a library or bookstore and coming away with a pile of book. Plus now, the kindle. You can travel without a bag weighing a ton!
I’m the same way. Travel always involves checking out the local bookstores. Used books seem to call my name. And my grandkids get books for birthdays and Christmas.
It starts when you’re young. If parents and teachers read to their child(ren), the pleasure of reading would bloom.
Absolutely. Children are naturally curious, and books offer a safe way to explore the world.
Exactly!
A problem here in Denmark, too. However, our government has decided to eliminate the sales tax on books, which is 25% in this country. That is great! Yes, sales tax is this high in Denmark on everything, also food. But remember, Health is free and Education is free!
Eliminating the tax on books sounds like a good idea to me.