NationStates Jolt Archive

One in 4 adult Americans did not read a single book last year. And I thought the 3 books I read this summer was little.... The most popular books are religious :rolleyes: and popular fiction.

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821/ap_on_re_us/reading_habits_ap_poll)

WASHINGTON - There it sits on your night stand, that book you've meant to read for who knows how long but haven't yet cracked open. Tonight, as you feel its stare from beneath that teetering pile of magazines, know one thing — you are not alone.

One in four adults say they read no books at all in the past year, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Tuesday. Of those who did read, women and seniors were most avid, and religious works and popular fiction were the top choices.

The survey reveals a nation whose book readers, on the whole, can hardly be called ravenous. The typical person claimed to have read four books in the last year — half read more and half read fewer. Excluding those who hadn't read any, the usual number read was seven.

"I just get sleepy when I read," said Richard Bustos of Dallas, a habit with which millions of Americans can doubtless identify. Bustos, a 34-year-old project manager for a telecommunications company, said he had not read any books in the last year and would rather spend time in his backyard pool.

That choice by Bustos and others is reflected in book sales, which have been flat in recent years and are expected to stay that way indefinitely. Analysts attribute the listlessness to competition from the Internet and other media, the unsteady economy and a well-established industry with limited opportunities for expansion.

When the Gallup poll asked in 2005 how many books people had at least started — a similar but not directly comparable question — the typical answer was five. That was down from 10 in 1999, but close to the 1990 response of six.

In 2004, a National Endowment for the Arts report titled "Reading at Risk" found only 57 percent of American adults had read a book in 2002, a four percentage point drop in a decade. The study faulted television, movies and the Internet.

Who are the 27 percent of people the AP-Ipsos poll found hadn't read a single book this year? Nearly a third of men and a quarter of women fit that category. They tend to be older, less educated, lower income, minorities, from rural areas and less religious.

At the same time, book enthusiasts abound. Many in the survey reported reading dozens of books and said they couldn't do without them.

"I go into another world when I read," said Charlotte Fuller, 64, a retired nurse from Seminole, Fla., who said she read 70 books in the last year. "I read so many sometimes I get the stories mixed up."

Among those who said they had read books, the median figure — with half reading more, half fewer — was nine books for women and five for men. The figures also indicated that those with college degrees read the most, and people aged 50 and up read more than those who are younger.

Pollyann Baird, 84, a retired school librarian in Loveland, Colo., says J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter fantasy series is her favorite. But she has forced herself to not read the latest and final installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," because she has yet to file her income taxes this year due to an illness and worries that once she started the book, "I know I'd have to finish it."

People from the South read a bit more than those from other regions, mostly religious books and romance novels. Whites read more than blacks and Hispanics, and those who said they never attend religious services read nearly twice as many as those who attend frequently.

There was even some political variety evident, with Democrats and liberals typically reading slightly more books than Republicans and conservatives.

The Bible and religious works were read by two-thirds in the survey, more than all other categories. Popular fiction, histories, biographies and mysteries were all cited by about half, while one in five read romance novels. Every other genre — including politics, poetry and classical literature — were named by fewer than five percent of readers.

More women than men read every major category of books except for history and biography. Industry experts said that confirms their observation that men tend to prefer nonfiction.

"Fiction just doesn't interest me," said Bob Ryan, 41, who works for a construction company in Guntersville, Ala. "If I'm going to get a story, I'll get a movie."

Those likeliest to read religious books included older and married women, lower earners, minorities, lesser educated people, Southerners, rural residents, Republicans and conservatives.

The publishing business totaled $35.7 billion in global sales last year, 3 percent more than the previous year, according to the Book Industry Study Group, a trade association. About 3.1 billion books were sold, an increase of less than 1 percent.

The AP-Ipsos poll was conducted from August 6 to 8 and involved telephone interviews with 1,003 adults. It had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

I get pretty much all of my reading material from the internet these days.

I don't read nearly as much as I used to, but still read four or five books a year. Used to read 20-30. I've read three so far this year. I've got 70 or 80 books on my bookshelf.

One in 4 adult Americans did not read a single book last year. And I thought the 3 books I read this summer was little.... The most popular books are religious :rolleyes: and popular fiction.

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821/ap_on_re_us/reading_habits_ap_poll)

Jesus. Some Americans, as Weird Al once said, "Dare to be Stupid."

I don't keep count. but do tech Manuals count for those books?

also, I do know I don't read as much as I did when I was going to school. that's because in school, I had time to read. nowdays, I don't. so all of my reading is online/magazines and not 'books' per se.

*shrug* Guess once Harry Potter ended...

One in 4 adult Americans did not read a single book last year. And I thought the 3 books I read this summer was little.... The most popular books are religious :rolleyes: and popular fiction.

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821/ap_on_re_us/reading_habits_ap_poll)

Reading is overrated, its boring and takes up too much time. Americans have better things to do with our time.

I mean, its important when you're a child, but when you get older, there are just more important things.

I read about 6-8 books a week on my own, some of them are religious, and some are popular fiction but most are non-fiction.

I also read about 50 books a week with the kids, most of them are very small and non-fiction.

maybe I am reading too much......if I stop will other people start? I feel like I am picking up the slack here.......

I read about 6-8 books a week on my own, some of them are religious, and some are popular fiction but most are non-fiction.

I also read about 50 books a week with the kids, most of them are very small and non-fiction.

maybe I am reading too much......if I stop will other people start? I feel like I am picking up the slack here.......

Speaking of reading... Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series is hitting the big screen! gotta re-read that series!

Speaking of reading... Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series is hitting the big screen! gotta re-read that series!

I loved those books. I almost shit a brick when I saw the trailer. :)

Speaking of reading... Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series is hitting the big screen! gotta re-read that series!

:eek: *re-reads*

btw, how do you know the books I read? :eek::p

Well over 20 a year...that's fewer than one a fortnight. I'd say I get through a book on average every 10 days, so maybe 35-40 a year. Not read anything for a while though, as I've just moved and all my books are still in various boxes.

Interesting how the results of that survey show that those who don't read any books are "less religious", yet those who "never attend religious services read nearly twice as many as those who attend frequently". Seems that if you're not religious and read, you read a hell (pun intended) of a lot.

I started to read the Diary of St. Faustina about a year and a half ago, but stopped about halfway through. I'm hoping to finish it.

Aside from that, I pretty much have to read books and the like. I'm attending a university.

Easily more than 20 a year. Perhaps 60-70 a year at a rough approximation.

Reading is overrated, its boring and takes up too much time. Americans have better things to do with our time.

I mean, its important when you're a child, but when you get older, there are just more important things.

I read for a lot of reasons. Let's examine a few:

For information. Mathematics, Physics, Politics. I have a lot of interests, many of which aren't sufficiently challenged by my school.

For entertainment. Sometimes related with the above. H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur Conan Doyle, Kipling, O'Henry, Pratchett.

To understand a position. There's at least one book on my 'to read' list that is there because someone said to me: "If you want to know my opinion on this, read it".

To form a position. If a good author has taken the time to put down a decent argument for a position relevant to an issue I'm interested in, I'll read her book, and possibly absorb some of her ideas.

To broaden my mind. Closely related with several of the above points, but this tends to refer to subjects or issues that I haven't really considered.

And that still doesn't cover why I read things like Crime and Punishment, to take one example.

I loved those books. I almost shit a brick when I saw the trailer. :)I know... I'm torn between re-reading those books and possibly spoiling the movie.

:eek: *re-reads*

btw, how do you know the books I read? :eek::pgreat minds think alike. :cool:

Speaking of reading... Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series is hitting the big screen! gotta re-read that series!

Sorry for the hijack, but I am I correct in understanding that they're filming the novel "The Dark is Rising" which is the SECOND book in the series? Do they just intend to do The Dark is rising or are they planing to do the whole series?

Reading is overrated, its boring and takes up too much time. Americans have better things to do with our time.

I mean, its important when you're a child, but when you get older, there are just more important things.

Obviously you don't hang around with the same group I do, non-readers are shunned at worst and at best can't keep up with the conversation.

edit: speaking of.......I dread attending book club tonight, her highness is picking next weeks book :(

I used to read a lot more often, and once the school library is open I plan to start doing that again. But a lot of what I read now is online fanfiction, since it's a lot easier then driving for 40 minutes or so to get a book... but I know that I've read at least nine books so far this year (probably more, I'm just counting the ones for which I can remember the title right now), which is a lot less than I used to read, and my brother will usually go through about four or five books in a week, or over the summer he went through about that many in a day. I voted 8-10 but I think I did that wrong... I'm sure I'll get to 20+ by the end of this year.

Reading is overrated, its boring and takes up too much time. Americans have better things to do with our time.

I mean, its important when you're a child, but when you get older, there are just more important things.

Moron. Assuming you refer to leisure activities, could you list what "better things" Americans have to do with their time? Incidentally, as far as crass generalisations go, that was special.

Easily more than 20 a year. Perhaps 60-70 a year at a rough approximation.

The Cat in the Hat and other kiddy books don't count. ;)

Sorry for the hijack, but I am I correct in understanding that they're filming the novel "The Dark is Rising" which is the SECOND book in the series? Do they just intend to do The Dark is rising or are they planing to do the whole series?

actually, "Over Sea, Under Stone" was written after the series even tho it takes place before Dark Is Rising.

as for if they'll do the rest of the books? I guess it depends on how this movie does.

Reading is overrated, its boring and takes up too much time. Americans have better things to do with our time.

I mean, its important when you're a child, but when you get older, there are just more important things.

I don't agree with the first sentence, but the second is kind of true. Americans work more than workers in other industrialized nations, especially those shiftless Germans (they'll never get anywhere). I'm sure plenty of people aren't opposed to reading, they just don't feel they have the time.

I read for a lot of reasons. Let's examine a few:
Sure :)

For information. Mathematics, Physics, Politics. I have a lot of interests, many of which aren't sufficiently challenged by my school.

Most people are too busy working & raising a family to learn more about Mathematics, Physics, & Politics. Sadly, not everyone has the freetime you seem to have:(. There are people with little to none at all, who scrape by as it is. Be glad you aren't one of them.;)

For entertainment. Sometimes related with the above. H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur Conan Doyle, Kipling, O'Henry, Pratchett.
You want entertainment? There are hundreds of forms of entertainment that aren't as boring or long as reading. Sports, Internet, TV, etc. are just a few.

To understand a position. There's at least one book on my 'to read' list that is there because someone said to me: "If you want to know my opinion on this, read it".
Or they could just explain their position to you? Really, even if you read the book, you may still need someone to explain their particular view of that subject.

To form a position. If a good author has taken the time to put down a decent argument for a position relevant to an issue I'm interested in, I'll read her book, and possibly absorb some of her ideas.
Good for you.:p

To broaden my mind. Closely related with several of the above points, but this tends to refer to subjects or issues that I haven't really considered.
Most books don't 'expand your mind'. They simply bore the hell out of you and are only good for taking up a little time.

And that still doesn't cover why I read things like Crime and Punishment, to take one example.
So why do you read things like crime & punishments?

I don't read anything on my own personal time, mainly because I have to read so much for school. I get burned out on it.

The Cat in the Hat and other kiddy books don't count. ;)

Well thats me out then:D

Moron. Assuming you refer to leisure activities, could you list what "better things" Americans have to do with their time? Incidentally, as far as crass generalisations go, that was special.

Ummm, no, think of something yourself. Seriously, if you can't think of any leisurely activities, I would assume you have a very uptight life.:p

Reading is overrated. Period.

Its vital when developing the mind as a child, but as you get older, who can find that they have the time? Or even want to, when there is so much more to do in the world than read? I'm not saying its bad, i'm saying its not as vital as people try to make it out to be. Seriously, you act like everyone will instantly die if they don't spend 8 hours a day with their face in a book.

Sure :)
Most people are too busy working & raising a family to learn more about Mathematics, Physics, & Politics. Sadly, not everyone has the freetime you seem to have:(. There are people with little to none at all, who scrape by as it is. Be glad you aren't one of them.;)

But these same people have plenty of time to read a post and write up a response. I bet you're still on this forum, aren't you? For shame, who will feed your family?

2-4.not including books for school.

Overall my reading tends to be slow since I only devote an hour a day to reading on weekdays. At this pace I barely finished The 100 by M. Hart in time for school to start. I agree that people just have more important things to do in their lives than read (family, friends, internet, job...)

Until a few years ago I hardly read anything, let alone voluntarily; even most of my text-books for university went unread. I still don't read a lot though, I really need an excuse to read, like traveling by train, or being very early for appointments/classes (but then, I will go out of my way to be very early). The list of books I plan to read is growing faster than the ones I've read though. I wish I had read more as a kid, then I could probably read faster now. I rarely get through more than 20 pages an hour (pocket sized books).

reading requires concentration, and i concentrate enough at work during the day... to have to do it at home too would be unpleasant. i prefer less cognitive ways of relaxing in the evening.

i'm dyslexic, however, so that probably increases the amount of concentration it takes for me to read... i'm not that bad, and i had lots of special classes when i was a kid. so words don't jump around or anything, but i do sometimes feel like the page is swirling around me... its weird. i often get headaches from reading too long. its better on a screen as i can adjust the brightness, text size, etc.

that all said, i have a keen interest in a lot of things, meaning i buy and start a fair few books (probably all non-fiction), but so rarely get round to actually reading most of them. it takes just too long. i still haven't got halfway through the new harry potter yet :P

the last book i finished was a political one last summer.

Sure :)
Most people are too busy working & raising a family to learn more about Mathematics, Physics, & Politics. Sadly, not everyone has the freetime you seem to have:(. There are people with little to none at all, who scrape by as it is. Be glad you aren't one of them.;)

I do have a reasonable quantity of free time. It's called still being in school.

You want entertainment? There are hundreds of forms of entertainment that aren't as boring or long as reading. Sports, Internet, TV, etc. are just a few.

I can think of nothing on TV that's as entertaining as a good Pratchett or O'Henry.

Or they could just explain their position to you? Really, even if you read the book, you may still need someone to explain their particular view of that subject.

Sure. Go find Plato and have him explain his position to me would you? Maybe Machiavelli?

Good for you.:p

Why thank you.

Most books don't 'expand your mind'. They simply bore the hell out of you and are only good for taking up a little time.

Gödel, Escher, Bach. That book expands your mind, after taking it to about three places you didn't know it could go, spraining it a bit, and demonstrating how it might work.

So why do you read things like crime & punishments?

Crime and Punishment, by Dostoyevsky. I haven't finished it yet, but because it's an extremely good novel.

Reading is overrated. Period.

Its vital when developing the mind as a child, but as you get older, who can find that they have the time? Or even want to, when there is so much more to do in the world than read? I'm not saying its bad, i'm saying its not as vital as people try to make it out to be. Seriously, you act like everyone will instantly die if they don't spend 8 hours a day with their face in a book.

I feel sorry for you, I really do. There's so much more out there than what you can see in front of your face and what's on TV! Give Simon Green's Nightside books a go, or kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. You'll be better for it.

I can't read. :(

actually, "Over Sea, Under Stone" was written after the series even tho it takes place before Dark Is Rising.


I wasn't aware of that, but IIRC the whole series was written in the 60's and I wasn't born until '77.

Caught the trailer. Part of me is impressed, but most of me is pissed that they thought it was necessary to update it to the modern day, they didn't try that crap with Narnia . . .

I don't know, how many books does It by Stephen King count?

Because that was 2000 pages of tiny print on a normal softback.

I don't know, how many books does It by Stephen King count?One.

I can't read. :(Never mind. Most folks around here can't write...

Gödel, Escher, Bach. That book expands your mind, after taking it to about three places you didn't know it could go, spraining it a bit, and demonstrating how it might work.

That was a good book. It's like the Bible, without the religion and slightly more math.

Never mind. Most folks around here can't write...

Heh. Well played.

That was a good book. It's like the Bible, without the religion and slightly more math.

I'm religious, and I'll agree to this. It's a truly awesome book. I learned more from that than from five typical textbooks at school.

One.

I don't think you understand how long that book is. :p

I don't know, how many books does It by Stephen King count?

Because that was 2000 pages of tiny print on a normal softback.

One. Three if you count the endings, which really should not qualify as being part of the book, on account of them sucking.

People read now more then anytime in US history thanks to the interwebs. The question is bogus if it does not take into account the web.

I read about four or five books a week.

I read about one book in every two weeks. Sometimes more, sometimes less - sometimes thicker books, sometimes thinner ones. Probably 20+ books but I played it save and voted 16-20.

P.S.: I'm a German European and I read every night before I go to sleep.

*EVERY* time I eat (barring trips to restaurants), I read.

One in 4 adult Americans did not read a single book last year. And I thought the 3 books I read this summer was little.... The most popular books are religious :rolleyes: and popular fiction.

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821/ap_on_re_us/reading_habits_ap_poll)

I read three books this WEEK, and probably ten this summer.

I'm still trying to figure out how someone could read "less than 0" books a year?

I'm still trying to figure out how someone could read "less than 0" books a year?
It seems that English Lit isn't the only subject that some Americans suck at.

It seems that English Lit isn't the only subject that some Americans suck at.

not just Americans since no one else pointed it out till now...

and wouldn't that fall under logic or math and not English Lit?

I'm still trying to figure out how someone could read "less than 0" books a year?

It seems that English Lit isn't the only subject that some Americans suck at.

It should be "fewer than zero", if such a thing were possible in the first place.

Reading is overrated, its boring and takes up too much time. Americans have better things to do with our time.

I mean, its important when you're a child, but when you get older, there are just more important things.

Like television and video games?

Like television and video games?

... that's a thought... how many lines of computer code would equal one book?

Like television and video games?

You have never felt ownage until you try KATGANISTAN! Now with a choice of furry, vicious, or longclaw modes.

There are a ton of good books out there.Howver the bad ones outnumber the good ones. People were always forced to read in school.That turned them off to books.They simply don't have the time. You come home from a long day of work or school, you simply don't want to read. You want to just crash,lay on the couch and watch TV.You don't have the time to go to the library.

Those are all good reasons. You have to find the right book or else it just doesn't work.

... that's a thought... how many lines of computer code would equal one book?

Depends on the code.

*EVERY* time I eat (barring trips to restaurants), I read.

Fuck that, I read at the restaurant! Well, I do when it's just redwulf and I - we usually both have something to read, so we're not really being rude.

Ummm, no, think of something yourself. Seriously, if you can't think of any leisurely activities, I would assume you have a very uptight life.:p

Reading is overrated. Period.

Its vital when developing the mind as a child, but as you get older, who can find that they have the time? Or even want to, when there is so much more to do in the world than read? I'm not saying its bad, i'm saying its not as vital as people try to make it out to be. Seriously, you act like everyone will instantly die if they don't spend 8 hours a day with their face in a book.

Am I? You'd have thought I might have noticed. Reading can, and for the intelligent mind should, be tremendously enjoyable; "The Hippopotamus" is more entertaining than any slack jawed comedy you enjoy, whilst I defy television to emotionally engage the viewer upon the same intimate level as a book.

Perhaps the syllogism "everything in moderation" applies. I read perhaps an hour or two hours a day, when in bed in the morning and at night; it can be relaxing, a decent history book can be engaging.

Incidentally, I'd drink Mr.Functional to whom I reply under the table.:)

I get pretty much all of my reading material from the internet these days.

QFT.

You cannot make the assumption that someone doesnt read just because they do not read many books. I used to read 2 or 3 novels a month, but these days I just dont have the time. I will be lucky if I manage 4 books this year (myth of the rational voter and harry potter are it so far).

That being said, I do spend an hour or so every day reading economics blogs (short but intellectually stimulating) and have a subscription the The Economist which takes up just about all the time I have for reading.

Next on the list is a biography of Mao I've been meaning to get to, but that will probably have to wait another month before I can tuck into it (though I suppose I could get a couple pages a day if I stopped visiting here...)

I read 4 or 5 books a week, sometimes more. My library card has worn quite thin. I moved two months ago and had 15 boxes of assorted stuff (kitchen gadgets, clothing, decorative things, etc.) and 27 boxes of books. I have 5 bookcases, all with all the shelves double stacked. I read in the bathroom, while waiting for or riding on the bus, in restaurants when I am eating my lunch, in bed, on airplanes, when someone else is watching tv...

I hate reading books. The internet suffices.

It is a slow month if I do not clear 5 books ... usually closer to 7 or 8

I've got six books I've bought in the last two years I haven't even read.

2-3 books per month...not counting magazines, newspapers, internet, and school related readings.

America =/= Mississippi.

I get pretty much all of my reading material from the internet these days.
I do a lot that way these days too. Usually my offline reading is just reinforced here, or vice-versa.
Easier to keep records online anyway (right now).

I'll read 4-5 books a week. About half is fiction - historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction, thrillers (About the only genre I don't read is romance). The rest is pretty eclectic.

I put down "20+" in the poll, but I'm a dedicated, lifelong bibliophore (I devour books). They're not necessarily new books, but I can stick away four hundred pages in a couple days.

I noticed the "20+" field was the highest. Not too surprising because from the looks of things we have a particularly intelligent bunch here.

What scares me, though, is a report I read a couple years ago that said that 15% of all Americans are illiterate, and 65% of what's left are only reading at the second grade level. Yeah, "See Tim jump. Jump, Tim, jump! Jump, jump, jump!" :rolleyes:

Think about that. Seven out of ten adults in this country can't read books like Harry Potter, or even some parts of the Bible. F yr reedeen Hukt onn Fonnix, how ken u rap yr hed aroun werdz liek "Shekhinah" n "Jozebiah" or eefn "Suleiman"? Can't read, never mind understand. They can't hope for anything except to think what their preacher spoon-feeds them.

What gets me is that so-called "Third World" countries like Thailand have 100% literacy. English (Spanish?) can't be any harder than Thai. We have work to do.

Allow me to slip in a quote:

The most important thing
That we've ever learnt
The most important thing we've learnt as far as children are concerned
Is never, never let them near
The television set
Or better still just don't install
The idiotic thing at all

It clogs their senses in their head
It keeps imagination dead
It clogs and clutters up their mind
It makes a child so dull and blind...

— Rouald Dahl

So crack a book, already. Piss off a censor.

Handy: Even now, he (The Tick) sulks like Achilles in his tent.

Everyone stares blankly at him.

Handy: Achilles? The Iliad? It's Homer??? READ A BOOK!

:D

People read now more then anytime in US history thanks to the interwebs. The question is bogus if it does not take into account the web.
depends on what they are reading. I can read a novel on the internet, but it is still a novel. I can read a newspaper article in print or on the internet, but it is still a newspaper article (the vast majority of which never pass a third grade reading level.)
Reading books, be it fiction or non, introduces more complex thought processes and logic, as well as a stronger ability to communicate.
not just Americans since no one else pointed it out till now...

and wouldn't that fall under logic or math and not English Lit?
You'd be surprised how much English lit can work to strengthen logic and math.


I said 20...right now, I haven't read anything as I'm trying to get a bit of a break before the semester starts. When the semester kicks in, I will be reading a minimum of 2 books a week.

I can't imagine anyone being surprised by the dwindling literacy in this faded republic. There are still plenty of literate people, but it's starting to be seen as something to distrust instead of something to which we should aspire.

I usually read 1-3 books a week, but when I'm deprived of technology (Internet, Xbox, etc.) I tend to go through 1-2 books a day depending on length.

Eh, the amount of books you read has nothing to with your ability to read. My room is full of books but that don't move much.

Eh, the amount of books you read has nothing to with your ability to read. My room is full of books but that don't move much.

I would be alarmed if your books moved. Unless you were on something.

I would be alarmed if your books moved. Unless you were on something.

We do get small quakes once in a while :p

I'll read 4-5 books a week. About half is fiction - historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction, thrillers (About the only genre I don't read is romance). The rest is pretty eclectic.

Are you my clone ?
Same here ;)

We do get small quakes once in a while :p

I'd still be alarmed, but thanks for reminding me about seismic activity. Easy to forget about on the Plains.

I recently finished my 9th book. I should have another 9-11 by years end.

Well it depends whether it is meant new books... I love to reread old ones several times (especially since in my language there is very few new books published). But then again in a year i read way more than 20 books.

What scares me, though, is a report I read a couple years ago that said that 15% of all Americans are illiterate, and 65% of what's left are only reading at the second grade level. Yeah, "See Tim jump. Jump, Tim, jump! Jump, jump, jump!" :rolleyes:
.

It cannot be that low. I am from poor Eastern Europe country and we have literacy rate of 99.7%.

I get pretty much all of my reading material from the internet these days.
As do I, though I do read quite a lot.

Depends of the size of the book and of my shcedule, but I would say the average is between one book every two weeks and one book every week. Probably around 30-40 per year.

But these same people have plenty of time to read a post and write up a response. I bet you're still on this forum, aren't you? For shame, who will feed your family?

Ummm, who said I was talking about me?:p

Luckily, I'm still young: no family, no dependants. Sweet, sweet freetime baby!:)

I do have a reasonable quantity of free time. It's called still being in school.

Good for you.:p

I can think of nothing on TV that's as entertaining as a good Pratchett or O'Henry.

Then you're not looking hard enough.

Sure. Go find Plato and have him explain his position to me would you? Maybe Machiavelli?

I was talking about going back to a friend and finding their opinion on said subjects.

Why thank you.

Your welcome.

Gödel, Escher, Bach. That book expands your mind, after taking it to about three places you didn't know it could go, spraining it a bit, and demonstrating how it might work.

...You read to much. Go outside.:)

Crime and Punishment, by Dostoyevsky. I haven't finished it yet, but because it's an extremely good novel.

...Sure it is. Buts its not as interesting as Law & Order re-runs!:D:(

I guess I avarage about one a week. It all depends on how many pages.

I get two hours a day reading and can normaly finish a 600 page book in a week, so if I'm reading 200 pages, I can do three of them a week.

Normaly it's just fiction, everyso often I get a hankering for some learning. I did go out and buy that 'God delsuison' last week, but I want to finish this Joe R Landsale novel first. Then OMG! I'm bookless!:eek:

Good for you.:p

You claim to be well provided with free time as well. What do you do with it?

Then you're not looking hard enough.

Ever read anything by either of those authors? Great books. The only thing that might compete would be the occasional TV adaptation of a Pratchett book, or Yes Minister (Which I have on DVD). Similarly, my taste in films is unfortunately not shared by the BBC.

I was talking about going back to a friend and finding their opinion on said subjects.

Maybe you're friends with an eminent political philosopher. I happen not to be, so I read the books of those who are such people, given that they likely have more of an idea about such subjects than anyone I know personally.

Your welcome.

No problem at all.

...You read to much. Go outside.:)

You spend too much time on the computer and in front of the TV. Go outside.
More seriously, I spend plenty of time outdoors. I average walking a mile a day, I visit friends, I do all sorts of things. I also read a lot.

...Sure it is. Buts its not as interesting as Law & Order re-runs!:D:(

Pfft. Two dimensional talking heads shooting people with explosions in the background, or complex characters and interesting plots. I know which one I'll go for. The main TV show I've ever enjoyed, Yes Minister, I possess in book form as well, which is actually more interesting.

...You read to much. Go outside.:)

One could, conceivably, read outside?

One could, conceivably, read outside?

Sigged. Congratulations, you're the very first person quoted in my signature.

Sigged. Congratulations, you're the very first person quoted in my signature.

I am having a very good day, I am thinking. :D

I am having a very good day, I am thinking. :D

And TFSM is back, so time to update that bit of the sig.

those who said they never attend religious services read nearly twice as many as those who attend frequently

interesting...

interesting...

Hmm...seems we may backtrack to books being the medium of the devil...

5-7, not counting school material, which probably doubles that quantity (and umpteen-hundred articles). Honestly, I've generally replaced reading with video-games and the internet. They provide the escape and entertainment I look for when I read, and I would argue that researching arguments on a message board is at least as mentally stimulating as reading a good book, and same with a good video game. At the very least, in the games I'm doing math to find the optimal route through the game. :)

It cannot be that low. I am from poor Eastern Europe country and we have literacy rate of 99.7%.

You'd be suprised. If kids automatically move up a grade every year, some can slip through the cracks and never learn how to read and write at an adult level.

Also, being functionally illiterate means not being able to read and write well enough for adult life (tax forms, government documents, reading a newspaper, that sort of thing).

Here in Australia (often advertised on primetime TV) there is a "Reading and writing hotline" for adults who need help reading and writing.

I went with 16-20.
I'm at school and find finding time to read quite hard.
I guess 'cause I'm into my Fantasy/Sci-Fi books it doesn't help; most are over 1k pages.

Hmm...seems we may backtrack to books being the medium of the devil...

Then again, "no book at all" also means "no Bible".

I'm sure I read a whole hell of a lot more than twenty books a year. I go through periods where I read a book per day. Then there are other times when I might go a month or more without reading one. Depends on my mood.
I mostly read fantasy, with a large side of history and politics. And I'll read almost anything about animals.

I read more when I was younger, and I read harder stuff. I'm just too lazy to read some of the more difficult stuff these days. If you asked me to read Tolstoy, Doitoiye- aw crap, the guy who wrote The Brothers Karamazov, or any thing else that might require real effort, it's not going to happen. I'm now a rather unambitious reader who mainly reads for entertainment.

I do read a lot of magazines. The length of most articles suites my short attention span pretty well.

Depends on the code.
That's a good point... all books are different sizes... Children's books are thinner than others... so how would the differeing programming languages fit?

You'd be surprised how much English lit can work to strengthen logic and math.then please... explain by using your Superior English Lit how someone can read "less than 0" books? :cool: :p :D :D

One could, conceivably, read outside?
“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

"Reading is easy if you don't sweat the comprehension" - Calvin & Hobbes

This summer I've currently handled thirteen or so...

This summer I've currently handled thirteen or so...

I've handled thousands of books while in college. but that doesn't mean I read them.

(I worked in a bookstore)

;)

That's a good point... all books are different sizes... Children's books are thinner than others... so how would the differeing programming languages fit?

Well, in binary every character consists of eight numbers, so you can factor that out from there. I know nothing of the other languages.

then please... explain by using your Superior English Lit how someone can read "less than 0" books? :cool: :p :D :D
By being Guy Montag, obviously.

I read entire authors' works, and that's what I count by. Three this year alone, and well over 50 books, let alone 20.

I enjoy reading, needless to say.