A majority of Americans have abandoned reading books, with more than 62% reporting they did not read a single novel or short story in the past year, according to the National Endowment for the Arts' most recent Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. The figure represents the highest number of Americans to eschew literature in three decades of the comprehensive study, prompting researchers to warn that the trend has reached crisis levels.
Other surveys paint an equally bleak picture. A CBS News/YouGov poll indicates that Americans have traded reading books for social media and gaming, while a study by the University of Florida and University College London found that only 16% of Americans read daily for pleasure โ a 40% decline over 20 years. Sunil Iyengar, who directs research and analysis at the NEA, said the declines have been so consistent that without concerted action, there is little point in continuing historical surveys on the topic.
The consequences extend far beyond entertainment. Reading literature has been shown to reduce stress, improve memory, strengthen attention spans, and bolster mental health by offering readers a sense of companionship amid what has been called an epidemic of loneliness. It also fosters empathy by allowing readers to inhabit the lives and perspectives of others, which in turn strengthens social bonds and civic participation.
Experts point to several contributing factors behind the decline. Hours spent scrolling on social media, economic pressures that leave little time for personal enjoyment, changes in school curricula that have replaced full-length books with shorter excerpts, and campaigns to cast reading in a negative light or limit access to books have all played a role. The result, researchers say, is that most Americans now lack the life-enriching benefits that reading provides.
Despite the grim data, there are signs of hope. Writers, publishers, English teachers, librarians, and literary arts workers continue to advocate for the importance of books. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Dolly Parton, and Dua Lipa are using their platforms to encourage reading among their millions of followers. Book clubs, silent reading parties, city-wide book festivals, and author talks at indie bookstores remain vibrant social opportunities for those who still read.
Individuals can also take action. Experts recommend putting down phones and dedicating time each day to reading, attending events with authors at local bookstores, supporting libraries and literary arts centers, and sharing the joy of reading with others. For current non-readers, free or low-cost services that deliver a poem daily or a short story monthly can serve as an entry point. Setting a goal to read one novel or work of nonfiction per season is another manageable step.
The stakes, researchers say, are high. Reading is one of the most effective technologies for holding and engaging with human intelligence. Without deliberate effort to reverse the trend, literature risks becoming a topic of the past โ a loss not just for individuals but for communities and democracy itself.
