For a study of rates of reading in the US, see:
http://www.nea.gov/news/news07/TRNR.html
From the "executive summary":
Quote:
|
Although there has been measurable progress in recent years in reading ability at the elementary school level, all progress appears to halt as children enter their teenage years. There is a general decline in reading among teenage and adult Americans.Most alarming, both reading ability and the habit of regular reading have greatly declined among college graduates.
|
Summary of conclusions:
- Young adults are reading fewer books in general.
- Reading is declining as an activity among teenagers.
- College attendance no longer guarantees active reading habits.
- Teens and young adults spend less time reading than people of other age groups
- Even when reading does occur, it competes with other media. This multitasking suggests less focused engagement with a text.
- American families are spending less on books than at almost any other time in the past two decades.
There are more data and conclusions in the following categories:
- Americans are reading less well
- The declines in reading have civic, social, and economic implications