The decline in serious reading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People didn't read the original Dickens or Dumas all at once. They were installments in magazines and paid by the page.

That's true, but Dickens always left a hook at the end of each installment to leave you curious for the next. I just read Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. IMO, they're page turners and hard to put down.

[Anonymous]

I started listening to audiobooks a few years ago and it’s been a game changer. I have so much more time to listen to a book than I do to sit and read (walking the dog, washing dishes, folding laundry). I don’t know how many books I listen to in a year, but I’m always listening to a book, and I love it.

[Anonymous]

I do a lot of reading and critical thinking at work, so the last thing I want to do at home is some “serious” reading. I do listen to audio books on my commute home, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do a lot of reading and critical thinking at work, so the last thing I want to do at home is some “serious” reading. I do listen to audio books on my commute home, though.

Also, I did more serious reading when I was younger and bored. Lol

[Anonymous]

I read books everyday. I read entertaining fluff books and deep thoughtful books, current books, older books and classics, fiction and nonfiction. I also listen to audio books daily, when I exercise or am driving, and have a book on my phone Kindle app always available for times when I do not have my actual book available. It's by Upton Sinclair, second in a series, about 1000 pages.

Both of my adult kids read more than I do and recommend books to me. I live in a community where almost all my friends read and share books. I go to a monthly book discussion group where 8+ people discuss what they are reading and whether they recommend or not. There is a well stocked library in our clubhouse building in addition to nearby public libraries.

I don't know who you are hanging out with but clearly my experience, now and all of my life, is vastly different from yours regarding reading.

[Anonymous]

We’re all reading here instead? Lol

[Anonymous]

TL;DR , can someone summarize this thread for me?

[Anonymous]

I work with students outside of school and they don't read much except for social media. It's awful. They don't learn grammar, they don't know how to write. They don't want to figure out how to solve stuff. It's just scrolling and TikTok.

[Anonymous]

I spend what would be my spare 20-30 min reading here….so….,,.

Less time!!?
See how that works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re all reading here instead? Lol

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read books everyday. I read entertaining fluff books and deep thoughtful books, current books, older books and classics, fiction and nonfiction. I also listen to audio books daily, when I exercise or am driving, and have a book on my phone Kindle app always available for times when I do not have my actual book available. It's by Upton Sinclair, second in a series, about 1000 pages.

Both of my adult kids read more than I do and recommend books to me. I live in a community where almost all my friends read and share books. I go to a monthly book discussion group where 8+ people discuss what they are reading and whether they recommend or not. There is a well stocked library in our clubhouse building in addition to nearby public libraries.

I don't know who you are hanging out with but clearly my experience, now and all of my life, is vastly different from yours regarding reading.

How old are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read books everyday. I read entertaining fluff books and deep thoughtful books, current books, older books and classics, fiction and nonfiction. I also listen to audio books daily, when I exercise or am driving, and have a book on my phone Kindle app always available for times when I do not have my actual book available. It's by Upton Sinclair, second in a series, about 1000 pages.

Both of my adult kids read more than I do and recommend books to me. I live in a community where almost all my friends read and share books. I go to a monthly book discussion group where 8+ people discuss what they are reading and whether they recommend or not. There is a well stocked library in our clubhouse building in addition to nearby public libraries.

I don't know who you are hanging out with but clearly my experience, now and all of my life, is vastly different from yours regarding reading.

How old are you?

Late 60s. I have plenty of time to read but I do lots of other things too. My kids work full time and lead busy lives but yet they read a whole lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read books everyday. I read entertaining fluff books and deep thoughtful books, current books, older books and classics, fiction and nonfiction. I also listen to audio books daily, when I exercise or am driving, and have a book on my phone Kindle app always available for times when I do not have my actual book available. It's by Upton Sinclair, second in a series, about 1000 pages.

Both of my adult kids read more than I do and recommend books to me. I live in a community where almost all my friends read and share books. I go to a monthly book discussion group where 8+ people discuss what they are reading and whether they recommend or not. There is a well stocked library in our clubhouse building in addition to nearby public libraries.

I don't know who you are hanging out with but clearly my experience, now and all of my life, is vastly different from yours regarding reading.

How old are you?

Late 60s. I have plenty of time to read but I do lots of other things too. My kids work full time and lead busy lives but yet they read a whole lot.

Do your kids have kids? I read a Franken book in a week before kids. Now there is always a mess to clean or a bill to pay — two working parents , 2 young kids.

I will say I listen to about 2 dozen audiobooks a year but it’s hard to listen to heavy fiction unless that’s all you’re doing — at that point I’d rather read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read books everyday. I read entertaining fluff books and deep thoughtful books, current books, older books and classics, fiction and nonfiction. I also listen to audio books daily, when I exercise or am driving, and have a book on my phone Kindle app always available for times when I do not have my actual book available. It's by Upton Sinclair, second in a series, about 1000 pages.

Both of my adult kids read more than I do and recommend books to me. I live in a community where almost all my friends read and share books. I go to a monthly book discussion group where 8+ people discuss what they are reading and whether they recommend or not. There is a well stocked library in our clubhouse building in addition to nearby public libraries.

I don't know who you are hanging out with but clearly my experience, now and all of my life, is vastly different from yours regarding reading.

How old are you?

Late 60s. I have plenty of time to read but I do lots of other things too. My kids work full time and lead busy lives but yet they read a whole lot.

It’s your age. All of my baby boomer/silent gen family members do though. I think other things consume the time of Millennials. Their “reading” also comes in other avenues like podcasts.

From a SM perspective, GenZ is really trying to make reading more popular with all the book tokers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make time for reading every day currently reading The Last King of America.

So am I. It's a major commitment.