Why Are People Reading Less?

[erpowers]

CBS This Morning just did a story on the fact that Americans are spending less time reading for leisure. CBS mainly framed the issue as a case of people just have short attention spans. They are missing the real reason why Americans are spending less time reading for leisure. Americans are spending less time reading for leisure because they do not have as much time to read for leisure and are too stressed out to read for leisure. I know a woman who tells me she would love to read for leisure, but she is too stressed out to read for leisure.

CBS and other news outlets need to think about the fact that Americans are working much harder today to make ends meet. That leads them to be too stress out to read. The stressed out part comes if they even have time to pick up a book. CBS and other news outlets need to talk about what is going on in people's lives that cause them to not be able to pick up a book for more than a few minutes if at all.

[HipChick]

1. Alexa can read to me..

[greymattermom]

2. I used to read a lot, then stopped for awhile during a stressful time.

But now I'm retired! I even love nonfiction again. Does DU count as reading?

[exboyfil]

3. I wonder if Netflix and Amazon Prime

has something to do with it as well. I have both (I am thinking of dropping at least one). You look at the 1,000s of choices available, and the buffet mindset sets in (consume as much as you can to maximize value).

I signed up for a special Kindle Unlimited package for three months (it was like $5). I read nine books and listened to 23 books in that time (I still have 17 more ebooks on my older Kindles that have been put in airplane mode).

[Bayard]

4. I don't have kids

But I think they aren't taught to read or appreciate books anymore.

When I was a kid (Gawd--I sound old!) you were assigned so many books to read in a semester. Classics like Moby Dick, Animal Farm, Brave New World, and The Scarlet Letter. Not a problem, because I always loved reading. One of my favorite classes in high school was, Greek and Elizabethian Drama and Derivatives (say that in a hurry!) My mom always took us to the library to check out stacks of books. I still love my own private library, and add to it all the time.

I agree, most people just don't have the time to read anymore. But I would think getting lost in a book is a way to relieve stress.

[Blue_Adept]

7. Great to see you're speaking from zero experience

I mean, your first line alone totally negates everything you have to say afterward because you have no experience in the matter.

You're just saying what you think without any facts to back it up at all.

[Bayard]

8. Well, thanks for clearing that up!

[shanti]

5. I read plenty

and was a bookworm kid. But it's the internet I read now, not books. Reading books used to be pleasurable until I began wearing glasses (presbyopia).

[FSogol]

6. People spend too much time starting at small screen, watching short video clips, and viewing

on-demand shows and movies.

I find myself reading more than ever. I usually read 2-3 books at a time. One in the bathroom and one by my bed. I carry one (sometimes an e-book on my nook) around for my office and waiting rooms. I also usually have an audio book in my jeep for trips. If one gets really interesting, it becomes my main book until finished. I've read 3 PG Wodehouse novels since the start of August.