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46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

nathanbransford.com

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Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#71

Post by ffgjgf1 »

Erratic6576 wrote: post #59
arnaudsm wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article above is about their decline in consumption

There’s no such decline in consumption. There’s always been a horde of illiterate people among the lower classes because decoding written letters is a very abstract and complicated intellectual activity. A few centuries ago, the illiteracy rate was way higher. But it’s always been mostly been niche activity for intelligent people, that’s why the school used to focus on training that skill

> There’s no such decline in consumption

Isn’t it? Weren’t people reading more books on average if we go back a decade or few?

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#72

Post by selimthegrim »

olddustytrail wrote: post #41
arnaudsm wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of the past yes, but what about the present and future?

Well, can you name a computer game that is a great artistic work? There are many that are good , but I can't say there are any that are on a par with, say, "The Lord of the Rings" or "War and Peace" or "1984". I'd love to hear of one that was though.

Cosmology of Kyoto, according to Roger Ebert.

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#74

Post by hiq »

maximus-decimus wrote: post #73

I have a hard time believing 54% did read a book. 18% of the U.S. population is functionally illiterate, and I don't know for you, I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer.

> I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer.

Have you tried before spending your whole day at your computer?

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#75

Post by Scubabear68 »

I have found a high correlation in my life between book reading and general happiness.

When I am in a period when I am reading books regularly, I am generally happy. Things are going well, I have good life balance.

When I go a stretch without reading books, I am generally stressed out and in burnout mode at work, and home life is not great.

Note - this is generally fiction. I read very little non fiction.

Note 2 - most people I know have no books in evidence in their homes. Maybe they read Kindle or other ebooks? But I think many simply do not read recreationally.

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#76

Post by BadHumans »

arnaudsm wrote: post #58
shikshake wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading is an active skill vs watching something is more passive. There’s lots of pathways in your brain that intensive reading lights up compared to other mediums. And lots of studies show that you retain more information and building stronger informational connections when reading vs watching. No one is telling you to stop watching movies or playing video games, but being a more active participant in a leisure acti…

Gaming is more active than reading. Maybe you're also thinking of imagination's involvment?

Is gaming more active than reading? I ask this as a gamer because I genuinely don't think it is. I feel more involved reading than I do gaming.

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#77

Post by mythrwy »

I'm in the 46% that didn't read a book in 2023.

But I probably read 3 or 4 hours (or more) a day. I used to read lots of books before the internet but the internet mostly replaced it.

There are a few perspectives one can take.

Maybe (probably) attention spans, including mine, have decreased with the internet. On the other hand, many non fiction books could be summed up in pamphlet and are full of filler. It's not necessarily a badge of honor to trudge through repetition and filler for hours to grasp core concepts.

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#78

Post by sateesh »

shikshake wrote: post #46
arnaudsm wrote: post #8

Why do we obsess so much over legacy form factors? Watching movies, listening to 2h conference talks, playing a 60h narrative videogame, and reading scientific papers in PDF may not be as noble, but they are equally meaningful to me.

Reading is an active skill vs watching something is more passive. There’s lots of pathways in your brain that intensive reading lights up compared to other mediums. And lots of studies show that you retain more information and building stronger informational connections when reading vs watching. No one is telling you to stop watching movies or playing video games, but being a more active participant in a leisure acti…

I do read a lot, but I don't completely agree that reading is an active skill all the time. It also depends on what one is reading. When I am reading a fast paced thriller or page turner , it doesn't feel like a very active skill/activity.

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#79

Post by brigadier132 »

arnaudsm wrote: post #8

Why do we obsess so much over legacy form factors? Watching movies, listening to 2h conference talks, playing a 60h narrative videogame, and reading scientific papers in PDF may not be as noble, but they are equally meaningful to me.

This

> reading scientific papers in PDF, listening to 2h conference talks

is not equivalent to

> Watching movies, playing a 60h narrative videogame

Re: 46% of Americans didn't read a book in 2023

#80

Post by brvsft »

maximus-decimus wrote: post #73

I have a hard time believing 54% did read a book. 18% of the U.S. population is functionally illiterate, and I don't know for you, I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer.

Same. As with all self-reported data, expected some lying shame-driven responses.

I also found myself having a lot less time to read after having a child. I've only started again this year because I feel like doomscrolling in bed is not the best way to fall asleep.

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