Almost Half of Americans Did Not Read a Book in 2023
National Read a Book Day Sees Little Impact
Despite the efforts of National Read a Book Day, celebrated on September 6 in the United States, it appears that the initiative has had little impact. A YouGov survey conducted from December 16-18 revealed that nearly half of all American adults did not read a book in 2023.
Survey Reveals Reading Habits of Americans
The survey polled 1,500 adults, and the results were quite revealing. Forty-six percent of the respondents admitted that they had not read or listened to a book in the past year. Twenty-seven percent said they had read between one to five books, while nine percent claimed to have read six to ten books.
Eleven Percent of Americans Are Avid Readers
Interestingly, eleven percent of Americans are avid readers, having read 20 books or more within the year.
Most Popular Genres in 2023
The survey also shed light on the most popular genres in 2023. Mystery and crime stories, as well as history books, were the most read genres, with 37 percent and 36 percent of readers respectively choosing at least one book of that genre.
Poetry: The Least Popular Genre
On the other hand, poetry emerged as the least popular genre. Only eight percent of readers in 2023 read poetry. A slightly higher percentage of men (nine percent) read poetry compared to women (six percent). The genre seemed to be more popular among younger age groups, with six percent of 18-29 year olds and five percent of 30-44 year olds reading poetry. Only three percent of 45-64 year olds and those aged 65 and above read poetry.
Bottom Line
The survey results present an interesting snapshot of the reading habits of Americans in 2023. It's clear that despite initiatives like National Read a Book Day, a significant portion of the population is not engaging in reading. Yet, there is a small but significant group of voracious readers. The popularity of genres also offers an interesting insight into the preferences of American readers. What are your thoughts on these findings? Do you think more can be done to encourage reading? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
