Quote:
Originally Posted by TimW
The first time I can recall breathless reports of the decline of reading and that even those who read anything were reading puerile rubbish was when I was growing up...in the 1970s. The decline of reading has long been CW and the reasons given were many of the ones you listed. Even S. Jobs confidently proclaimed back in 2008 that the Kindle would fail because "no one reads any more." He was incorrect. If he were alive to repeat the statement today, he would still be incorrect.
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The latest studies (depending on which you use) say 24-28% of Americans haven't read a book in a year. This is up from 21% but better than figures from 2004. Ebooks and audiobooks have helped get people to read. However, the median is still 5 books a year, down from 7 in 2007. I need to add that neither study defines "book" and the respondents can include comic books, graphic novels and internet posts.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/1...nership-jumps/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4045937.html