Dear reader, you are part of a dwindling group. Around the world fewer people are reading books, newspapers or magazines for pleasure, whether in print or on digital devices. Laments about the decline grew louder this week, as an extensive US study found that just 16 per cent of people spent any leisure time reading during an average day, down from 28 per cent two decades ago.
Researchers from the University of Florida and University College London, who analysed round-the-clock diaries from 236,000 Americans, were right to express concern about their findings. They corroborate other evidence from the US and elsewhere that people are giving up reading in favour of activities such as endless scrolling through social media or watching short videos on TikTok, Instagram and elsewhere.
Neuroscientists and social psychologists cite many benefits of becoming absorbed regularly in a book or newspaper, from improved mental health and wellbeing to educational and cultural enrichment. Listening to audiobooks — a fast-growing publishing sector — provides similar benefits to reading on paper or a tablet.