1 in 4 read no books last year
Did anyone see this article?When I read this article, I couldn't help but wonder how many movies and TV these non-readers had watched this year or how many video games they had played? I know not everyone is replacing reading books with entertainment like movies and video games, but I would guess that most people who didn't read any books did watch at least one movie or a few hours of TV.WASHINGTON - There it sits on your night stand, that book you've meant to read for who knows how long but haven't yet cracked open. Tonight, as you feel its stare from beneath that teetering pile of magazines, know one thing - you are not alone.
One in four adults read no books at all in the past year, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Tuesday. Of those who did read, women and older people were most avid, and religious works and popular fiction were the top choices.
The survey reveals a nation whose book readers, on the whole, can hardly be called ravenous. The typical person claimed to have read four books in the last year - half read more and half read fewer. Excluding those who hadn't read any, the usual number read was seven.
Read full article.
My problem has always been that there are so many good books I want to read and never enough time to read them all. I am terrible at often starting new books when I've not finished the other ones I've already started. I have set a goal this year to try and finish at least one book a week. This doesn't always happen, of course, but by making a goal to read one book per week, I've found I usually finish at least two or more books per month. Never as many as I'd like, but at least it's something.
By the way, on the subject of books, I admit to thinking almost all fiction is incredibly boring. I'd much rather read a biography or a book on business any day. Am I alone in this?
posted by Crystal Paine at 6:59 PM
30 Comments:
At times fiction can be incredibly boring, predictable and...well...boring. But once you find the right series or the right fiction book, it can be just as captivating as anything else! I love all the Beverly Lewis books as well as the O'Malley Series and Spirit of the Appalachia. I couldn't put the O'Malley series down! Give one of these a try, I have all of the above if you want to borrow one or two next time you're down here. :-)
Love,
Laura
I've been surprised how many books I get through now that we no longer have TV. I think that is the main culprit stealing reading time. I never thought I wasted that much time with TV, until I went without it. I find that I crave reading material to connect with the world, but I didn't when I watched TV. Somehow it took that place, but it felt emptier. The "1 in 4" is a sad statistic.
I heard about that study on the radio yesterday. I can hardly believe that so many people just don't read much. I've always loved reading, and generally read between 30-40 books a year. This year I'm setting a goal for 50 and will probably hit it. My older brother is the major bookworm in the family...he'd read about 100 books a year!
It's ironic that allot of these people probably have been to college and been "educated"...yet they won't read books that could educate them. And I'm not talking about fluffy cream books...:)
No way you are not alone. Even when I was at my height of business in nursing school. I still squeezed in something during break I had wanted to read. I also read MANY books a day to my child. Sadly, people have forgotten the lost joy and frugality of reading books.
Our generation (Gen Y -- those of us born between 1980 and 2000) are said to be the last generation of people who read semi-regularly. You're right in that it's largely due to the internet, video games and such. I am not so cynical to think that we are a less educated generation than that of our parents. I mean, schools are teaching kids way more in 1st grade now then they did when my mom went to elementary school in the 1960s. Even still, I think it's sad that reading is becoming a dying pastime.
Personally, I could do without a TV. I hardly watch any at all -- I would say less than an hour a week. I do, however, spend a lot of time on the internet, so I am typical in that sense. Despite it all, I love, love, love to read. I'm an English major, after all! And yes, I love fiction -- it stimulates my imagination!
What's wrong with reading fiction (as well as non-fiction)? I love to let my imagination go wild when I read! 8^D
Hmm, some fiction is baaaad, but some is fantastic. Have you read "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (Harriet Beecher Stowe) yet? It is a great story with a strong Christian message. I love "Anna of Byzantium" (Tracy Barrett) too. Then there's "Les Miserables," "Laddie," "The Chosen"...the list goes on!
Most of the time I read non-fiction or theology stuff, but I think 'Uncle Tom' rates as one of the best fiction works I've read.
I have read Uncle Tom's Cabin - that was one of the books on our required reading list to graduate from high school. I can't remember exactly what I thought of it, though. Isn't it based upon some true stories, or am I mistaken?
I much prefer to read real-life stuff to fiction most of the time - some of my favorites are biographies of famous people or great men/women of God. I also very much enjoy business-related books. Jesse and I are currently reading through Dave Ramsey's recommended reading list here:
http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=80#10
(mostly the Business, Marketing, Leadership, and Personal Growth books). I'll probably post some book reviews soon - if I have the time! There's always so many different things to blog about and never enough time and space to get them all written and posted. Just like there are so many great books out there.
no, you are not alone, I love NON FICTION!
I read just about anything, as often as I can. I think I read more than 4 books a week most of the time. I usually read 1 fiction book to 2 or 3 non-fictions.
Crystal, I would love to read some of your reviews on Ramsey's recommended books. I recently read his "Total Money Makeover" and was impressed (it was the first of his books that I've read). I had decided after reading your blog some time ago that I would never go into debt, and the book solidified my decision.
I am blessed to be just beginning on my financial journey--no debt and a bank account that grows, thanks to part-time work and not needing to buy much--and living at home with my parents. Now I just need to move on to some of the later baby steps!
Oh, according to Wikipedia, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is fictional, but partly inspired by the story of Josiah Henson. Okay--it was sentimental at times, but Tom's faith encouraged my own!
I LOVE to read! It is my number one hobby! I am not too crafts orientated, so in my spare time I read. I only read Christian books and have been looked down on that from people, even Christians. I love Christian based fiction and non-fiction, and have a hard time putting a book down once I get started. I personally don't find fiction boring, but love to read stories about real life missionaries better. and women's devotional books. I have a daughter who also loves to read, and then another daughter who probably fits into the category of not reading much. Both were homeschooled and my one daughter did not enjoy reading even then, and did read only what was required. I don't know why they are so different.
I watch very little television, and love to read and use my imagination that way.
Carla
oh, i loved uncle toms cabin from the first time i read it at 11. the language was a bit difficult but the story is brilliant. you should read it again, crystal!
BTW, of the many subplots it contains, several are based on true stories or local legends, and it is accurate since it was written at the same time as it was based.
I'm a big fiction reader, and I really loved A Little Pincess and the Secret Garden when i was young. Those are beautiful stories. I've never really liked fantasy though, and i hate romance/fluff.
I love Christian fiction. I know some folks can't stand it, and everyone's taste is different. I read about one-fourth fiction nowadays. My habits changed quite a lot after having kids. I enjoy being challenged by book about motherhood or about being a better wife. Occasionally a topical book will catch my eye.
I have tried general fiction on a very limited basis, but only when I can borrow a book or get it for a quarter at a library sale. You never know about offensive content. I don't need to read any book that bad. Every once in a while I am pleasantly surprised.
Fiction is one way you can see a truth in action. It's a way to visualize how something plays out in a real life situation. I would say, given the enormous amount of Christian fiction, that most folks do not find it boring or dull.
Take two instances...I have recently finished the 3rd book in the Chronicles of Narnia. How I ever ended up missing them as a kid, I'll never know. Whatever your "take" on the fantasy genre, most would say they are classics in fiction/fantasy. Another excellent writer was George MacDonald. A Scottish author who was the hero of many later writers, his Curates Awakening, and Musician's Quest are some of the best books I've ever read. They are loaded with deep spiritual meaning and thought provoking. I have all his novels.
Of course, reading is often a learned art, and the more one reads the more he/she will want to read. Gladys Hunts books on "Honey for the...Soul" are a great way to start reading as she gives synopsis to many classic works for different ages and genre.
I have little interest in modern fiction, but love the old classics like:Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little Women, Heidi,Pilgrims Progress(I'm a descendant of John Bunyan, so I"m biased on that one!),Anne of Green Gables, To Kill a Mockingbird-all these stories have a biblical worldview, which many modern ones do not, so we plan to read books such as these to our children, as well as bios of great Christians etc.
Claire
I'm with you on the fiction thing; I love reading books about life, other peoples lives and things I'm interested in...the only thing is I get so enthused by the books I'm reading I want everybody else to read them, I'm forever recommending! My children are 4 and 3yrs and are already passionate about books!
Keep reading
Leah x
I enjoy fiction, mostly classics or lesser-known works from before the twentieth century, though. The most recently written fictional work I've read was the first of the Mitford series -- a good read, especially for a busy season when time doesn't permit more than snatches of reading here and there. I have a difficult time enjoying modern fiction, even modern fiction written about the past. The writers of the past really knew how to put a sentence together! I appreciate and am challenged by that.
As for non-fiction, the last book I read was I'll Take My Stand, a collection of essays about the agrarian South. I usually don't read non-fiction unless it's related to an area in my life which I feel needs improving and there are no real-life experts around whom I could ask for help. I'll soon be delving into Nourishing Traditions and some essays by Wendell Berry.
Biographies are great, but I've found so many of them go into a lot of psycho-babble. I much prefer an autobiography or journal.
If you could recommend biographies without a lot psycho-babble, I'd appreciate that! Maybe some you especially liked.
Well, I just happen to be that *one* of the four, and I probably read enough to make up for the three that don't read!
I must say I'm currently on a non-fiction kick where I like to read to learn. I do enjoy fiction... especially writing it... though. I read a lot and make good use of our local library. But I can spend hours in Barnes-n-noble!
Cyndi L.
I'm an avid reader; I think it really helps to take a day completely off TV and computer once a week, and free all that time for other things, like reading.
Crystal, how sad!!! My dad always told my brother and I that "leaders are readers" and he would often reward us for doing book reports during the summer time.
And, I am also a big non-fiction reader and I enjoy biographies a great deal. However, I enjoy laughing at many of the humerous children's books we check out at our local library. Being a mommy keeps me laughing!!!
I read about anything but my favorite is Christian Fiction. Terri Blackstock is a good suspenseful author; Stephen Bly a good Western author; and I like Lori Wick's romances.
One of my favorite books since childhood is "An Old-Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott.
This summer for the library reading program I read 13 books - so I was able to get 2 free books to keep! I used to read more than that before I had kids.
We don't own a TV.
I agree, Crystal.
I was not surprised by the article when I read it earlier this week, though, as everyone around me typifies what was found in the survey. Growing up I never saw my parents pick up a book EVER, and my husband also is a staunch non-reader (he didn't learn to read until his second year of COLLEGE on a baseball scholarship--this is why I homeschool the kids). Most of my friends all tease me about how smart I am (lol) but they all admit that reading is something they hate to do and can never find time for, but watching the latest TV or movie is something they always find time for. :(
This issue has been perhaps the biggest point of contention in our home. Because TV and movies are my husband's favorite pasttime, I have made the children purchase minutes of tv viewing with pages of a book read (and described to me). I keep a reading log for each of them, and for every 5 pages they read, they can be on the computer or TV for a half hour. this year for the summer library reading program, the librarians were amazed that all of my children read well over 2000 pages each, and well over 10 books each. Thankfully my children love to read, but TV has quite a pull when it is on all evening long.
I read about 50 books a year, and I always read the Bible through in one year, each year. I tend to prefer non-fiction, but sometimes a good fiction story really grabs me. I especially enjoy biographies, and I enjoy reading all sorts of books out loud to my children.
I think maybe one reason could be that readers are made fun of. We are protrayed as geeks, unsociable, etc. in the general public. I still get made fun for reading. I am a fast reader and 4 books a year! I may have read 4 books in a day before, on a day when I was bored. I re-read books I love often and now that I have 4 children, my reading time has been cut down greatly, but I usually still read a book a day. Speed reading has it's advantages! That is why I re-read though as I miss stuff when you do it that way!
As far as fiction, non-fiction debate, I do think some fiction is so boring! I dislike alot of the today's christian books. There are a couple of excellent authors, Francine Rivers has written some fiction that is so deep with meaning, it can take a couple times of reading it to get her point. My favorite fiction is old fiction! I like fiction that is true to life usually. I love a good biography or book that just is interesting facts. I just got an interesting book about a girl named Molly Brown, written in 1912. She went away to school (an all girl's school), her widowed mother wanted her to go and learn so she could come back and help support the family. She worked hard blacking shoes and doing several jobs besides schoolwork. It talks about a then famous woman's rights activist and protrays her in a interesting light as one of her daughters was at the school. She had no regard for her family, her daughter makes the comment "She probably forgot I even go here." The girls who know her daughter are not impressed at all! Laddie, Dauhter of the Land, then there are many other books that are fiction based on true stories, during different times in history, like Not Regina, Fire in the Zurich Hills, books by Christmas Carol Kauffman are excellent, Gwen Bristow (while not christian, excellent history lessons), Distant Thunder, Tip Lewis and His Lamp.......then of course I could go on and on about my favorite non-fiction books, but this comment would get way too long! = )
At one time I decided to read only non-fiction books through my mother's request, I read alot of true stories that frankly, I wished I had never read. I had not read anything as bad in fiction. I am sure there is some like that, but as a easily accessible. Truth is not always good. Yes, it is true, but we also need to think of he rest of the bible verse when it comes to what we fill our minds with.
I think of a good fiction story, like Fancine Rivers books as sort of a parable as I learned so much from some of hers. Redeeming Love really spoke to me in a way in showing me God still loved me. The first time I thought it was a really weird book, the second time, I sobbed. It brought me to my knees in praising God for His love!
Crystal, I was so glad to find someone like myself who finds fiction boring!! Whether books or films, for me, it has to be reality or biography. I don't know why, but I suppose it is just that I feel I can't relate to fiction and feel that it has no usefulness in my life!! Give me a christian biography any day!!
Karen (UK)
Well, that is just sad that so few read. I adore reading and hope to pass this on to my children. My 7yr old already is a big reader..so I think we are heading in the right direction.
But, I must disagree with you on fiction being boring. Some fiction is definitely so, and I will happily discard those. Some is just plain inappropriate and again...you will seeing it fly out the window. But, there are some fiction books that are just great. C.S. Lewis has some wonderful books, Tolkein, Jane Austen and there are many others that I personally enjoy. As a Christian, you do need to be careful what you read...but then just be discerning and throw out what is not right.
That being said, I also very much enjoy non-fiction, biographies and the like. So...again, I LOVE reading:-)
Lots of love,
Sommer
Well, my husband has probably only read a few books in his entire life. He is NOT a reader! However, I read enough to make up for him and a few other people, too. =) To each their own, of course. I read probably 2 books a week, and that's with 3 children ages 4 and younger!
I love fiction and non-fiction alike, and try to get a mix in.
Fiction books are like this. You read one, you have read them all. I find biographies much more interesting as they are based on a true person and true events. They can be inspiring and serve as testimonies to life. I really like diaries and memoirs. Stories of survival and courage. Those are the worthwhile books!
Sorry Crystal, I have to disagree with you.
Pride and Prejudice
Oliver Twist
The Scarlett Letter
The Great Gatsby
Hucleberry Finn
The Red Badge of Courage
The Canterbury Tales....etc
are some of the most wonderful "boring" fiction I've ever read.
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