A recent study reveals a troubling trend in the United States: the number of Americans who read for pleasure has plummeted by 40% since 2004. The share of subscribers who read has dropped from 28% to a dismal 16% in 2023. This shocking dropoff has put literacy and education specialists on the defensive. Jill Sonke, a primary researcher and national expert on the field, described this turn as, “a pretty persistent, pretty pervasive decline.” She referred to it as “deeply troubling.”
Those results were recently published in the journal iScience. To come to their conclusions, the researchers supported their inferences with data from more than 236,000 participants of the American Time Use Survey. The study highlights that while adult fiction remains a popular genre—with titles like Kristin Hannah’s The Women topping sales charts—overall engagement with reading has waned significantly. This decline is true across all demographics, including women and minorities. It does so disproportionately to Black Americans, as well as people with lower income or education levels, and those in rural areas.
In her analysis, Sonke focused on the role of modern distractions in fueling this phenomenon. She stated, “Our digital culture is certainly part of the story.” Digital media and entertainment alternatives are rapidly expanding. This reading boom is pulling focus away from the tactile reading experience, often creating barriers for individuals to connect with print literature.
A decline in pleasure reading has been particularly alarming. Yet all of that changed this past year, as physical book sales increased by 1% following two years of declines. That could mean fewer adults are reading for pleasure but it means there’s still a consumer base for print books.
The adult literacy rate in the United States has been estimated at 79%. This ranks the country 36th in the world for literacy rates. This statistic emphasizes the need to promote reading habits from an early age to ensure higher adult literacy rates and a deeper cultural engagement.
Children’s reading experts have long urged schools and the government to promote programs that spark a love of recreational reading. They are passionate advocates for the idea that developing an appreciation for reading increases personal literacy. Their enthusiasm for reading translates into a more educated and engaged community as well.