Is this generation reading books less?

[sumanoskae]

Hmm... I like to read but am very hard to impress via literature. A part of me still sees reading as more work then watching or playing(Thanks the fuck a lot, people who tried to teach me to read), so I require more in return. I'm working on getting over that.

But I have a close friend who's the opposite, he finds most electronic stories boring, and reads tons of books.

 

[Matthew Dunn]

I am a huge fan of novel reading (At 20 years old)
in some cases i go through up to 5 books a month
Ive read the Philip Reeve: The mortal engines, Predators gold and the Infernal Devices
10 times Each
Yet My brother whos is only 2 years younger than me refuses to touch a book, It took both me and me mother to shout at him enough to read the Highway Code so he can pass his theory driving test
which he has failed because he still refuses to read cover to cover
That generation are stubbon
Games and Films cannot replace the timeless experiences you can have with a good paperback book

 

[sumanoskae]

What you guys are all forgetting is that this generation also has more free time than any generation that came before. We are not reading less books than before, because before not many people had the time to read books, they were too busy working. And this may come as surprise, but not very many people read books, and this has been true for as long as we've had them.

These sorts of threads are stupid. It's just a place for people to come and complain about how little everyone else reads, while they in fact read all the time and have a book with them always. I would say that the amount of people reading books is at an all-time high, and if you really want to get scientific about it, the population explosion would probably make up for any small decline in readership ratio-wise.

That makes sense, after all, it's not like reading in and of itself is much to brag about, let's not forget what some of our most sparkly sellers are...

(Anyone else notice that "Gameplay" is supposedly misspelled and "Bestseller" isn't)

 

[Aptspire]

Today, I bought 2 new books, even though I am still in the process of re-reading 'The Dark Tower'
so, as far as I'm concerned, people don't read less

 

[w9496]

I'm 17, and yes we are. I honestly hate books because I usually can't connect with them. Seriously, fuck books.

 

[00slash00]

if im any indication, then yes. unless im traveling, i usually never read

 

[shedra]

Books are a less common from of entertainment. I know that I personally read less than my parents did.
But that doesn't imply that we're less knowledgeable, everyone has more access to much more information thanks to the internet.

 

[Nimbus]

Consumption of thought provoking media cannot and should not be measured in books read.

 

[Draitheryn]

I dont know what you mean by "this generation", there's more easily accessible forms of media out there so that affects it. In certain circles reading isn't "cool" and a lot of people lack the imagination to make books viable. I personally listen to audiobooks because I absorb the material better and listen to about 1000 pages a week whilst I play games, workout, work etc. I know plenty of people that still read an hour or so before bed every night.

 

[Dethenger]

They're probably reading less books, but I'm not sure that necessarily means they're simply reading less. I, for example, haven't read very many books lately, but I read a lot every day online.

 

[Soluncreed]

The reason is that I think our schools are focusing way to much on the classics that are rather difficult to read and not introducing kids to newer, well written books.

Just make us read books from the modern era.

 

[Drake_Dercon]

Reading has become different and more sporadic, but I don't think "reading less" is true.

How many pages have you read online today? Reading doesn't necessarily refer to books.

 

[Hides His Eyes]

Is there no room for the "I find books to be as boring as watching lead-based paint flake off a patio railing, but I still read plenty" crowd? I read plenty, even though I fall into that category. Shop manuals, the internet in general, wikis, shit like that, and if you don't think that counts as reading you're being pretentious.

Of course it counts as reading in a literal sense, but it's not the same thing as reading books.

 

[Hides His Eyes]

Good god, how many "people may read fewer books but they read a lot online" posts does this thread need??? ARGH!

 

[Denamic]

In terms of just reading, we read a shitload more now than 10-20 years ago.
We also write many times more than we used to.
The amount of text we read on a weekly basis is easily comparable to multiple books.
It's just that we don't read actual books as much any more.

 

[Blaster395]

I probably spend most of my time reading something in some form. If I look at anything I cannot help but read it, even if its incredibly dull, unless I am a hurry.

 

[Korolev]

Actually no - if you consider the entire world, more people are reading books than ever before due to rising literacy rates in developing nations. Besides, books have NEVER been that popular throughout history. Throughout time there has always been a core of dedicated literature fans and people who rarely read, and the people who rarely read have always made up the majority of the population.

I remember when I was in High School - few people visited the Library and most of my classmates only read what the teachers forced them to read. This was during the early 2000's and late 90's. Kids have never been big fans of books, and even most adults rarely read when they don't have to. Even BEFORE television, most people spent their time either talking, listening to the radio or drinking. There has never been an instance in history in which the majority of any population were dedicated book readers - as I just said, it's only relatively recently that more than 50% of any population could read anything more complicated than a road sign.

All in all, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[William Ossiss]

I'm sorry, I don't have time to read your post.

;-)

Seriously, though, yeah, this generation is reading less. There still are people who read, but it's not like the older days. Then again, would you much rather read a book or play a game? I rest my case.

both. somethings you cannot get out of a game, like the way R.A. Salvatore describes a fight sequence. oh, sure, you can watch someone throw his chain blades around like Kratos, but reading how some characters fight is just wonderful. you can imagine every backhand, every downward thrust. i love books. games just can't compare.

 

[aei_haruko]

The title says it. This has been brough to my attention recently and I honestly can't tell. I don't see a whole lot of people read but then I can't judge based on that alone.

Do you think the current generation of kids/young adults read less?

EDIT: I guess I'm the dumb one here. I thought people would understand what I was saying with "reading", as in reading books. Normally people just say "reading" when they talk about someone reading a book. But I guess this doesn't apply everywhere.

I enjoy both comic books, and actual books, but whenI read I try to read to teach myself a point, or to reach a philisopical point. I like to read, then to pretend as though I can explore the world in the manner i wish. It opens up a doorway in which i can explore my psyche, and the world around me, this is why i read