Fewer Americans are opening a book for fun each day, with reading for pleasure in the United States down 40% over the past 20 years, a new study finds.
Researchers from University College London and the University of Florida analyzed surveys from more than 230,000 Americans aged 15 and older between 2003 and 2023, tracking their daily reading habits.
Results, published in the journal iScience on Wednesday, showed the share of people who picked up a book, magazine or e-reader every day dropped about 3% per year. Reading with children was also rare, the study found, with only 2% of adults reporting doing so on average every day.
However, those who did read spent more time doing so, averaging more than 90 minutes daily.
The study also found that reading declined more sharply among Black Americans, those with less education or lower incomes, and people in rural areas, with gaps widening over the 20-year study period.
The researchers speculated that the drop is likely tied to the rise of digital media, including social platforms, streaming and online browsing.
The authors cautioned that less reading could affect health, well-being and literacy. Reading has been linked to stronger language skills, reasoning and empathy, they said.
The study authors say that national strategies often focus mainly on children. The authors suggested that adult reading habits also deserve attention, especially given their impact on health and well-being.
The National Literacy Trust, an independent charity based in London that promotes literacy, advises setting aside 10 minutes before bed, carrying a book or e-reader during commutes and making reading a shared family activity. Even small changes can help bring reading back into daily life, the group notes.