Using 2003–2023 American Time Use Survey data, Jessica Bone and colleagues report that the share of Americans who read for pleasure fell from about 27% to about 17%. Time spent reading with children did not change over the period.
— A sustained decline in leisure reading has implications for literacy, attention, civic culture, and how schools and libraries should respond.
2025.12.02
86% relevant
YouGov’s data directly connect to the decline in leisure reading: the article shows that people who have read a book are far more likely to identify its historical setting correctly, reinforcing the existing idea that falling recreational reading undermines cultural literacy and civic knowledge.
Aporia
2025.10.06
100% relevant
The roundup’s summary of the ATUS study (2003–2023) reporting a drop from ~27% to ~17% in pleasure reading.
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