>50% Americans read Fewer than 2-3 books in 2023

[Anonymous]

More than half of Americans read fewer than 2-3 books in 2023. Do these figures not include audio books? Just wow.


Just over half of all Americans said they read at least one book in 2023. Most of them read just a few books this year: 82% of Americans read 10 or fewer books.

Dec 21, 2023
https://today.yougov.com › articles
54% of Americans read a book this year | YouGov

[Anonymous]

I probably am into that category. As a kid and teen I was a voracious reader. In college I read several books a week for classes and then read a lot of literature over the summer. Now I read all day for work and I’m just tired at night so I skim the internet or watch TV. Even when I go on vacation I am still working at least half days so really not a lot of downtime to read even on vacation. I also don’t really like reading fiction unless I know ill have time to actually finish the book.

The books I remember reading this year are:

Wolf Hall
Hell of a Book
I’m a stranger here myself (didn’t finish — not his best book)
The angels game — think I’m not going to finish this one, too long and rambling
There may have been one or two more that I’m now forgetting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I probably am into that category. As a kid and teen I was a voracious reader. In college I read several books a week for classes and then read a lot of literature over the summer. Now I read all day for work and I’m just tired at night so I skim the internet or watch TV. Even when I go on vacation I am still working at least half days so really not a lot of downtime to read even on vacation. I also don’t really like reading fiction unless I know ill have time to actually finish the book.

The books I remember reading this year are:

Wolf Hall
Hell of a Book
I’m a stranger here myself (didn’t finish — not his best book)
The angels game — think I’m not going to finish this one, too long and rambling
There may have been one or two more that I’m now forgetting

I bet you did forget a book or two. I often do.

You raise very good points - there are good reasons why many of us read far less after college / high school.

I have noticed a lot for younger people prefer graphic novels and audio books - and I think they should count.

[Anonymous]

I was surprised to see those stats as well.

[Anonymous]

I read zero books. And listened to zero audio books. I don’t feel very “wow, just wow” about it. What are you thinking that means?

[Anonymous]

Wow what? So what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I probably am into that category. As a kid and teen I was a voracious reader. In college I read several books a week for classes and then read a lot of literature over the summer. Now I read all day for work and I’m just tired at night so I skim the internet or watch TV. Even when I go on vacation I am still working at least half days so really not a lot of downtime to read even on vacation. I also don’t really like reading fiction unless I know ill have time to actually finish the book.

The books I remember reading this year are:

Wolf Hall
Hell of a Book
I’m a stranger here myself (didn’t finish — not his best book)
The angels game — think I’m not going to finish this one, too long and rambling
There may have been one or two more that I’m now forgetting

This book is so good; and it takes a while to read even if you are a fast reader.

[Anonymous]

I'm not surprised. Lots of folks don't enjoy reading.

I read a lot, but I'm a writer with an MFA in creative writing.

[Anonymous]

I hate reading. I read so slowly and my mind wonders to more interesting things in my life.
Also, so many books are so repetitive.
Please recommend an interesting book to read under 300 pages.

[Anonymous]

There are piles of books all over my house - not the ones on the shelves, but the ones I’m looking at right now and will read soon. Also I have an always changing pile of library books by my recliner. Some only get skimmed and some get read entirely. I have a voracious appetite for new books lol.

I admittedly read much less now than ever before in my life but cannot imagine the lives without any books that so many people lead after they finish schooling.

However, having listened to the podcast Sold a Story last year, I realize that a really large portion of the younger than me population was short shrifted by reading education in public schooling and have always struggled with reading. If reading is hard, people won’t read for pleasure. When I suffered the worst of my depression reading was hard (concentrating) and I hardly read for several years.

Learning about the reading crisis in this country is the biggest reason I’ve decided to make a midlife career change to public school teaching. And so I could have 10 weeks off to read every year.

[Anonymous]

Check the size of the survey.

[Anonymous]

Literally 1/2 of aneurysms are going to vote for trump. You think they are reading for pleasure?

[Anonymous]

^Americans

[Anonymous]

I don’t think I finished more than 3 books this year. I abandoned a few. I’ve had years where I read lots more, and years where I’ve read zero. Lately, it’s the phone, chipping away at my attention span, always offering something more convenient to look at. No doubt.

[Anonymous]

It’s totally the phone addiction. Most kids don’t read much either outside of what is required for school. Even good students. (My kids are different because we restrict screens).