Is this generation reading books less?
- Thread starter Saucycarpdog
- Start date
Recommended Videos
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.
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.
Just make us read books from the modern era.
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.
How many pages have you read online today? Reading doesn't necessarily refer to books.
Of course it counts as reading in a literal sense, but it's not the same thing as reading books.TestECull said:
Good god, how many "people may read fewer books but they read a lot online" posts does this thread need??? ARGH!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.The Virgo said:
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 readSaucycardog said:
I guess it depends on how you define reading - whether it is strictly limited to print media or if there are certain kinds of text that count as "reading" and others that don't. I mean, a lot of people here have been reading these forums. And if people are reading books less, no one seems to have told the publishing industry and the incredible number of books being published.
It's not that people are reading less, it's that they are thinking less. There's hardly a moment when we aren't seeking to be entertained and very few people stop to just think for a while. In fact, my brother sent me a brilliant NY Times Op-Ed about just that topic today, the Post-Idea World:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/the-elusive-big-idea.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
It's not that people are reading less, it's that they are thinking less. There's hardly a moment when we aren't seeking to be entertained and very few people stop to just think for a while. In fact, my brother sent me a brilliant NY Times Op-Ed about just that topic today, the Post-Idea World:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/the-elusive-big-idea.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
Literacy on average is rising, yes. The current generation of young kids and students, especially here (to me) in the States? Hard to say. There seem to be more surges of popular light reading (Twilight, etc.) but on average...eh. There's always the people who enjoy reading on their own time and those who don't.
I think it's still very undervalued, though. I've always been a big book nerd, and it's been incredibly valuable to me in and out of school. Every subject involves some level of reading comprehension, use of context, communication; it's how we learn. It also improves your own writing and speaking, especially when you need to sound professional and well-informed. So all of that reading (both light and serious novels) helped me a great deal. You can make an educated guess on a lot more things, too.
I think it's still very undervalued, though. I've always been a big book nerd, and it's been incredibly valuable to me in and out of school. Every subject involves some level of reading comprehension, use of context, communication; it's how we learn. It also improves your own writing and speaking, especially when you need to sound professional and well-informed. So all of that reading (both light and serious novels) helped me a great deal. You can make an educated guess on a lot more things, too.
I work in a book store, and honestly I actually do see a lot of young kids (7-12) come in really excited to buy and read books. The dropoff point seems to be teenagers. We have a few regular teenage readers, but mostly it seems like teens only come in for the occasional Twilight purchase, and then nothing. 20 somethings aren't really representing that well either, I'm sad to admit. C'mon guys, pick it up!
I'll say what it looks like everyone else is saying - reading books, yes. Reading overall, no. The major problem for me is the cost of new books, usually about £10 for a few hours reading. That, or Oblivion for the same price, and a few hundred hours playing. For £-per-hour, it's easy to see which is more efficient. And I've almost drained the local library.
People are reading less books, that's because we have more forms of entertainment, games are a lot bigger now, internet is way bigger, with netflixs and streaming movies and shows are cheap and easy to watch now, a lot of it isn't we want to read less it's we have more other things we want to do.