42% of college graduates never read another book after college

[Ron.]

I don't see what reading or not reading has to do with anyone's intelligence. I read a lot but it's not like I am sitting around reading physics textbooks. People have less time and there are more options for entertainment then ever before, it's as simple as that..

[jessicalynn]

There are plenty of intelligent people that don't read books for pleasure. My boyfriend for example is very intelligent and tech savvy but he doesn't read books for pleasure. He does like to watch documentaries and read articles online however (and tinker with various audio technologies).
Just because someone doesn't read novels doesn't mean they don't use their brain in other ways!

[idraw22]

Sadly, it's not all that shocking. I've been reading books since my 4th grade teacher read The Hobbit to me. I feel like in the 30's and early eras they read more! They didn't have tv, the net and all that.

[deddajay]

My family were always big readers, our house was stuffed with book shelves and cases, so it was inevitable that I read from an early age. I was one of those kids with the torch under the bedclothes after lights out

Sadly, I can believe the statistics. At work several of us share favourite author discussions during our breaks, but others admit that they never read at all. I've also noticed that the non readers tend to have a more limited vocabulary than the readers, so much so that I am often asked what a word means when I use it. This is from otherwise intelligent people who supposedly had a good education, albeit 20/30 years later than I did, although I don't want to get into a debate about declining educational standards here.

I actually feel sorry for people who don't read. Just think what they are missing out on!

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by deddajay

I actually feel sorry for people who don't read. Just think what they are missing out on!

I do, too. I have 'converted' my husband into being a reader (I had a hard time finding a cover for him - sorry, bad pun), and he has told me that he can't believe what he was missing out oN all those years.

[elcreative]

But maybe fun trying to find the sd card slot for extra memory...

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I do, too. I have 'converted' my husband into being a reader (I had a hard time finding a cover for him - sorry, bad pun), and he has told me that he can't believe what he was missing out oN all those years.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by elcreative

But maybe fun trying to find the sd card slot for extra memory...

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by elcreative

But maybe fun trying to find the sd card slot for extra memory...

So that's why I always have to remind him about our anniversary!

[Avarwen]

Originally Posted by ApK

I wonder if more people would try reading as a leisure activity if fewer advocates came off as smug and pretentious.

This wasn't directed specifically at you, Avarwen, but you did manage to illustrate, in one concise, quotable package, the way many here insult not just anyone who doesn't read books, but also those who don't read books THEY approve of.

These are the people who look at you strange if you don't know who Snookie is or don't enjoy or read Twilight. My problem is that these people never bother to read past the popular fluff if they even can be bothered to read. When I was a kid you not only read for enjoyment but to learn. Something I don't see many younger people doing these days and I'm not that old.

If this was just a matter of opinion they you could call me and others sooty but it's a fact. As of now America is going down the shitter when it come to eduction. Now instead of reading and enriching ourselves we gorge ourselves on the latest trash from the tabloids and watch more trash T.V than should be allowed by law. I'm all for having fun reading and watching smut here and there but from what I've seen that's all most people read or watch.

We need to get kids and all people into reading more and reading more advanced books. How can we expect to compete with other first world nations when most people can't read past an 8th grade level? Don't even get me started on science and math. There's a reason we are no longer #1.

[kennyc]

Exactly! Karma'd!

[bearymore]

78% of statistics are made up, including this one.

[lunixer]

Ha. I believe it. If you count Harry Potter and Twilight as the trash that they are and don't put people who have read those in the numbers they would be even lower.

[CazMar]

I was trying to find similar statistics for Australia - but the only study I could see was done in 2006 - http://www.abs.gov.au
It shows a reading rate of just under 48% read a book in the previous week. Yet despite this our 2 largest booksellers have just gone broke! No doubt Amazon makes a lot of money out of Australia and the libraries are always busy.
I find it hard to believe the USA statistics quoted - surely the figures should be more on par with Australia's? The educational level is similar and both countries are almost 100% literate.

[lunixer]

Originally Posted by CazMar

I was trying to find similar statistics for Australia - but the only study I could see was done in 2006 - http://www.abs.gov.au
It shows a reading rate of just under 48% read a book in the previous week. Yet despite this our 2 largest booksellers have just gone broke! No doubt Amazon makes a lot of money out of Australia and the libraries are always busy.
I find it hard to believe the USA statistics quoted - surely the figures should be more on par with Australia's? The educational level is similar and both countries are almost 100% literate.

Your data specifically say that they are from people who have read a book for pleasure in the past three years. This would dramatically change the results. The data discussed in this thread are for everybody in the country (allegedly). Also the data are pretty old at about 5 years.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by bearymore

78% of statistics are made up, including this one.

I read it was 86 percent.

Really.

I wrote it down, then I read it.

(That's a Howie Mandel line.)