The most recent report from the National Endowment of the Arts reported that for the first time in about twenty-five years the number of people who read a book of literature increased. The largest jump (21%) came in the 18 to 24 year old group or what might be called the Harry Potter generation. According to the survey about 50% of all adults read a work or literature each year and approximately 54% read any book. This report followed a 2007 AP-Ipsos poll that found 27% of adults in America had not read a book of any sort during the previous year. The AP-Ipsos poll included reading religious books in its numbers. These results are important. Adult reading not only informs and nurtures positive feelings and behavior in adults, but plays a role in the reading habits of children.
How Reading Strengthens the Individual
In 1983 Gavriel Salomon, an educational psychologists, published a paper on the differences in learning between television and reading. His primary concern was the two types of learning were doing very different things. He found that reading demanded a deeper investment from the participant. Studies by Darlig Paull found that reading and literacy translated to higher self-esteem and positive behavior. T.G. Brazhe’s work found that reading was key to self-development and Jane Mace found that reading was essential to improving workforce flexibility, productivity, and collaboration.
Though its clear that reading plays an essential role in the development of individuals and groups of people it may be a bit surprising looking AP-Ipsos poll and seeing what is not being read in America. Including books that were assigned reading for school only 4% of Americans read a business book. 4% of Americans read a book on politics. 1% or less of Americans read a book on psychology and sociology. When engaging in public discussion on issues it appears that an overwhelming number of Americans do not read about how individuals, groups of individuals, business, and the political process work.
Adult Reading and Its Influence on Children
Steven Levitt in his book Freakanomics unveiled one of the more provocative analysis of adult reading and future economic success of children. He found that although data did not show a significant relationship between reading to a child or adult reading and a child’s future success there was a definite correlation between having books in the house and a child’s future economic success. Other interesting studies show that lack of reading materials in a community does not have to a child’s literary development, but a father’s employment standard does. Taken as a whole reading can be seen as something each child must develop on their own, but the availability of books at home is important.
Who is Reads in America?
Looking at the hard data from the two surveys we know the following about adult reading. Half of America doesn’t read literature. 58% of women read a literary book during the prior year while only 42% of men did. Reading for American’s between the ages of 45 and 54 slightly dropped. 56% of Whites read a book of literature while 43% of African Americans and 36% of Hispanics read literary books. The percentage of African Americans participating in literary reading increased about 50% and Hispanics 67% since the last survey in 2002. According to the AP-Ipsos about two-thirds of Americans read religious books each year and liberals are more likely to read than conservatives.
PD Casteel - PD Casteel is a business executive, social theorist, and author. He is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University where he earned a BA in ...
