I read this article in yesterday's paper and felt my stomach sink. Then, suddenly, all these questions rushed into my head that made me feel like I'm 85 years old. What is wrong with this country? Where have we gone wrong? The younger generations are just letting it all go to shit. Americans aren't reading books. One in four adults read NO BOOKS last year. NO BOOKS. I don't even understand how that is possible. How can you read NO books? In a YEAR?
People in the West and Midwest read the most. Southerners only read religious books or romance (barf barf barf!) and people who do not attend religious services read nearly twice as many books as those who do.
Interesting. So, an agnostic female Minnesotan is likely to be reading quite a lot, while a religious man in Alabama is probably reading nothing. People know to read to their kids (right? People do know that?) But maybe we need to start a campaign to get adults to read to themselves! Who's with me?
19 comments:
I LOVE to read, but seriously, after I have put the kids down, most nights, if I picked up a book, I would be reading the backs of my eyelids within 5 minutes. Hopefully my brain won't turn to mush before I have the time and non-tiredness (not really a word but who cares right? I have an excuse, I don't read??) to actually sit down.
It is a good excuse....too busy with small kids. I do get that one. But, it is just a phase and when you have more time to yourself, you may get back into it. I try to read every night before bed, if only for a few minutes. When I have a really good book going, I can't stop at ten minutes, though, and stay up too late!
I read in spurts. Once I finish a good book, I want to get another, but if I can't find one or don't get one I may not read for months. And if you asked me what books I've read in the last year it would probably take a long time for me to figure it out. I wonder if children's books counted in the survey. Add reading to the long list of things people 'should' be doing more often. I wonder if those religious Southerners count reading the Bible - or only if you read it start to finish in the last year? I'm curious how the poll was conducted and what they asked, I guess.
I agree that they should, but I feel despair at the idea of trying to get them to. Where we used to live, I joined the local MOMS Club, and we all attended a storytime at the library. And I was THE ONLY ONE IN THE ENTIRE GROUP WHO KNEW WHERE THE LIBRARY WAS. The ONLY ONE. That was more than 8 years ago, and my circuits are still blown out.
I am with Tracy, I love to read (now, more than I use to) but if I read before bed I am out!!! Most of the books I have been reading lately are parenting books too. Never really been into the romance books, I have been known to read religious books (yes....a southerner...and that is interesting), but I really enjoy reading different type of diet books and cookbooks. Not that I go on these diets, but I am always interested in knowing the reasons why they "work". And I have learned a lot about all the "food" we eat and why our country is so obese! But that is another story!
But I DO read to the kids! At least 3-6 books a day (depending on how naptime goes). And I think that if we read (for ourselves) in front of our kids that it will encourage them to pick up a book and read!
I love to read! But- I can rarely find a book that interests me. When I do, I can't put the book down. I hate romance novels, but I love mysteries and funny, girly novels. I used to read lots of self-help books but I am done with that phase. :) What books do you recommend?
Too long, didn't read.
I have a lot of trouble believing all the polls out there. Maybe it's that the results are hard to believe. Or that I don't know anyone who has been polled for one of the zillion polls that happen on a daily basis. That being said, it is harder to read now that I'm a parent. I love to read, but I have a lot less time. When I finally get the kids to bed and the dishes in the dishwasher and the trash taken out, Tim is finally home and/or it's time for bed. Some day. Some day I hope to read more.
For now, I feel pretty good about my every-other-month book club read.
I love to read! What in the hell America, get your f'ing shit together and pick up a goddamn book!
I read books, frequently. But, I know plenty of parents that do not read to their kids.....most of my students were never read to. Sad.
ok...I confess- I continue to be obsessed with reading. granted- I read trash...but it is highly entertaining and allows me to be interrupted by my little sweetie(and get back into it after I find HER a book to read)...and it allows my procrastinating thoughts of "oh, I really should be grading papers...or cleaning that cat hair that is in tufts around my prone body" to just slide on by! once you get past the guilt of doing little housekeeping... :-)
luckily, I teach Language Arts- and yes, by golly, I force those little "angels" into having a daily silent reading time!! hey- if we can't have nap time in 6th grade....
it is VERY depressing how many kids have NOT been read to when they were little... :-(
It is sad! I wrote a post about it too! I can't believe that people aren't reading. but I don't just believe it is the young people saying 'no' (I'm 23 and read all the time) it has to do with how you were brought up
Books I read and enjoyed recently:
The Glass Castle
The Measure of a Man - Sidney Poitier's autobiography.
Hook 'Em!
Take your kids to the library once w week. Itr's fun and good for you and the kids!
Another engaging novel that will keep you reading even if you have a toddler:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
How sad would it be not to read to your kids!
I stopped reading for pleasure while I was in college, but have always loved to read. I know that I read that the biggest indicator of a child reading was whether or not their parents read.
Yep, A Thousand Splendid Suns is an incredible book. You should also read The Kite Runner by the same author. I do admit that I've only read travel books since Harry Potter last month. Too busy quilting.
AFM says: (agnostic female Minnesotan)
Read anything by Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins, or JK Rowling. You'll find something you love in there!!
Another big reader over here who is appalled by the lack of reading. I am actually in a book club that reads a book each month. Prior to my 3.5 year old coming into the world, I averaged three books a month. Now, I still get one read per month and am currently reading eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Berg. I even track what I read each year. I am an official booknerd.
I can't imagine NOT reading!
I also can't imagine not reading to my kiddo. Our nighttime routine always consists of books. His school also has book share every day and each day a few of the kids bring a book and the teachers read it. Emerson's day is Thursday and he's always excited to pick a new book to bring to school.
Hi AFM! I was thinking of you when I wrote that part! :)
Hi Lara! THanks for commenting. I agree with you and I also must have similar tastes in baby names as my kid's middle name is Emerson!
I have heard that Eat, Pray, Love is a MUST READ. It is on my List!
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