Poll Finds 1 in 4 Adults Did Not Read a Book Last Year

August 22, 2007

An Associated Press/Ipsos poll, released on Tuesday, revealed that 27 percent of the approximately 1,000 U.S. adults polled had not read a book in the past year. However, the study showed that more than half of those who did read a book in the past year had read more than six books, and over a quarter had read more than 15.

Michael Gross, associate vice president of Ipsos Public Affairs, told BTW that it was "somewhat surprising" that one in four adults polled had not read a book during the past year. "We like to think of ourselves as an intelligent country and well read." On the other hand, he added, "It's also encouraging that three-quarters have read a book." Since this particular poll was specifically about reading books, and not reading in general, Gross stressed, "You can't draw any conclusions" about Americans' overall reading habits from the study.

Overall, the survey had some interesting results. For one, the poll showed that more than any other age group people 65 or older were less likely to have read a book in the past year; however, Gross stressed that most respondents over 65 who said that they had read a book last year were voracious readers.

Seventy-nine percent of adults aged 40 to 49, and 74 percent of adults aged 18 to 29, reported that they had read a book in the past year.

The highest-ranking subject among readers was religion. Sixty-four percent of those who had read a book in the past year said that they had read the Bible or some other religious text. Popular fiction and nonfiction history were tied for second place at 54 percent, and 48 percent of respondents said they had read a nonfiction biography or a mystery or thriller novel in the past year. Romance novels were read by 21 percent of the responding readers.

By region, the Midwest boasted the highest percentage of readers, with 80 percent of respondents reporting that they had read a book in the past year. But, noted Gross, the South had the highest percentage of people who read a large number of books. Thirty-one percent of respondents in the South said that they had read more than 15 books in the past year. --David Grogan

Topics: Industry Statistics, News - Bookselling,