There's No Reading Going on In the USA?

Question

I just heard that 58% of all high school graduates will not read a single book the rest of their lives; 80% of households in the USA didn't buy a single book last year; and 51% of adults in America haven't been in a bookstore, any bookstore, for the past 5 years, for any reason (even to buy coffee, a card or a CD) ... what do these statistics say about America in 2007?

Answer 1

That is just depressing. 5 years!? It looks to me like most people want to let their minds turn to mush.

Reading is dying out, and I believe that the consequence will be that people's grammar, writing, and general communication skills will weaken as a result.

Answer 2

I read all day long, just not books. I dont have the attention span for books. I can easily spend 5 hours reading the news and other articles on the web. And I often do, I get paid to, at work. The only reason I go into a book store is when my profs are screwing me out of another 400$ for texts that I will need twice.
I'm positive this isnt the case for many americans. As children, when we were being punished in school, what was the consequence? Often reading or writing. We have been conditioned to do these activities only when it is necessary.

Answer 3

my oldest sister most definitely still reads, and she's in college.
And I know for a fact that my family bought books last year.
My mom has most definitely been to a bookstore in the past five years, not just once but between 10-20 times at least. And the library? even more i would say that we have been to the library with my mom about 52 times a year.
Of course that's just my family because we are bookworms, but that just goes to show that the 20% of households that do read, do it frequently.

Answer 4

Americans are all about the bigger, better, faster. Instant gratification is the name of the game. Books take too long for most people to read due to ever shrinking attention spans.

Personally, I think books are excellent. Unfortunately, I only read about 8-10 per year, a bit disappointing even though it stomps the national average. It is sometimes much better to read a book and formulate your own interpretation of the characters and locations rather than just noticing what a movie or TV shows you.

Answer 5

I think it's sad that the country has such a low attention span. I always get so much more out of a book that I do a movie or a tv show. I plan to instill in my children what a joy reading can be. If more parents took the time to read to their children I think they would enjoy reading as adults too. A book can creat a fantasy no other media can. It's very sad.

Answer 6

I'm not sure I buy these statistics. Where did they come from? I know lots of people that instead of a bookstore get teir books at Walmart, Meijer, Target, or online.

Answer 7

I believe it is because people, teens mostly, are so obsessed with the internet. I am a student in high school and i must say that the stories we read in school are hard to read. They just dont keep out attention. I love to read but i cannot stand the stories were assigned to read.

Answer 8

well 4 me i am the type of person that loves to read but some peole don't like to read and some don't even read at all but i think it is good 4 people to read books cause thats something you have to do in school especially in English but there is reading going on in the USA.

Love Always Dree

Answer 9

IDK, but i'm defiantly not one of the statistics. I go in the library at least once a week, and I also go to the bookstore at least twice a week. I am almost NEVER seen without a book, and I LOVE reading.
God Bless!!

Answer 10

It says parents are not parenting. Teens are growing up all attitude and no substance.

There is was to much emphasis on appearance and pop culture in all media and marketing today and parents turn a blind eye to just how swept up there children are in it...