The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 48, November 25, 2007, Article 16

SURVEY: READING AT RISK

Jeff Reichenberger writes: "I read about a disturbing trend
that should be of interest to bibliophiles of all genres.
Your son bringing you a book from his school library prompted
me to send you this.

"The National Endowment for the Arts recently published survey
findings that literary reading in America is in dramatic
decline. Perhaps no surprise with the Internet and countless
other entertainment options these days. However, the scale
of the decline is what is frightening.

"The comprehensive survey called 'Reading at Risk' covers 20
years, 1982 - 2002, and involved over 17,000 adults, covering
demographic groups by age, gender, race, education, region, etc.

"Some of the findings include:
 * A 10% overall decline in literary reading over the 20
  year period. This 10% represents a loss of 20 million readers.
 * Less than half of the adult American population now reads
  literature.
 * Reading is in decline among all age groups.
 * (most toublesome) The steepest decline is among the
   youngest age groups. 18 - 24 = 28% decline. 25 - 34 = 23%
   decline.

"The paper is filled with charts and in-depth analysis of
every aspect of the study. The conclusions appear grim and
far reaching.

"Parents have always known that it is important to make
reading a strong and enjoyable component of everyday life,
and it is getting harder and harder for books to compete
with computers, video games, and 
celphone-ipod-blackberry-thingamabobs. 
Tuesday, November 27, 2007Unfortunately, it appears we must work even harder to
stem the literary slide in America. I'm going to start by
putting books at the top of the Christmas list. Next, I'm
going to start asking friends and family what they are reading.

"The entire survey (60 pages) is very interesting and
readable and can be downloaded in pdf format at:
ReadingatRisk.html "

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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