US Daily Leisure Reading Drops Over 40% in 20 Years

A recent comprehensive study published in iScience reveals that daily reading for pleasure among U.S. adults has declined by about 40% over the past 20 years, dropping from 28% in 2003 to 16% in 2023. This decline averages around 3% annually and disproportionately affects African American communities, individuals with lower income or education levels, and rural residents, highlighting widening disparities in access to reading. Despite the overall decrease, there is a rising popularity of genre fiction such as romance, fantasy, and mystery, along with growth in series books, book clubs, and social media discussions that foster community among readers. Experts emphasize the benefits of reading for empathy, critical thinking, and well-being, and suggest that rekindling reading habits involves finding personally enjoyable genres and engaging in reading communities. Encouragingly, reading with children has remained steady, underlining the importance of promoting early literacy to support lifelong reading habits. These findings raise concerns about cultural and educational impacts but also point to strategies that could help reverse the downward trend.