NEA: Literary Reading Above 50% for First Time...

According to the New York Times, a recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts showed that "the proportion of overall literary reading increased among virtually all age groups, ethnic and demographic categories since 2002."

In an official response to the NEA report, book-blogger and avid reader Chris Steib said: HOORAY!

NEA chairman, Dana Gioia, cites a renewed "buzz around literature" as the reason for the spike in reading, thanks to national book clubs (Oprah), reading initiatives (NEA's The Big Read), blockbuster bestsellers (Mr. Potter, et al), and the efforts of devoted individuals (aw, shucks!).

Perhaps this Grapes of Wrath-like economy has driven us back indoors where all those dusty, unread books are begging for our attention -- or perhaps we've just found nothing interesting to watch on our 3,000 DTV channels. In any case, this is the first good news the publishing industry has heard in a while, as overall book sales slumped drastically in the fall (reported here last month).

So whatever the cause, let's hope the result is that percentage of readers keeps moving in the positive direction, and even after we claw our way out of this recession, literature finds itself at the heart of our culture once again.

Now what are you waiting for? Power down and pick up a book!

GATHERERS WEIGHT IN: Has this Steinbeckian economy increased your reading time? (And, secondarily, do you agree that Steinbeckian is a word?)

Comments: 11

Chris W. Jan 12, 2009, 10:47am EST

Great rejoicing, Chris! In my particular case, I am probably reading less literature than a year ago, because I am wasting too much time here (see: "FIve warning signs of Gather Addiction").
Perhaps we owe a great debt of thanks to Oprah. She took this problem seriously a decade ago, and actually got to work on it. I may not like ALL the books she pushed, but she tried when others did not.

reply to this comment

Paul M. Jan 12, 2009, 10:55am EST

Nope, I'm reading about as much as usual. I wonder if library rentals have gone up dramatically in recent months? Though these days more people are probably interested in the DVD rental section than the book section.

reply to this comment

Gretchen Lee Bourquin Jan 12, 2009, 11:01am EST

This is great news. A lot of things helped, I think. Including the Writer's Strike -- where I noticed the bookstores were a little more busy. But then people are finding ways to get books cheap, and not necessarily buying them new, which takes a bite out of the industry as well.

reply to this comment

L. H. Jan 12, 2009, 11:02am EST

I'm reading more, but enjoying it less. And also, seems like I find a really good book tell someone, and they borrow it, and well, read half the book. I'm reading more magazines, like my brother sometimes, have three opened at a time.

reply to this comment

Chris Steib Jan 12, 2009, 11:07am EST

LH -- any magazine suggestions? I read GOOD magazine, New York Mag, and that's about it. I'm also reading "The Alienist" right now, which I'm really enjoying, though it's a bit of a dense read for a thriller.

reply to this comment

Miss Melle Jan 12, 2009, 11:11am EST

This is great news! I keep hearing people say that books will go away someday because of the internet and other digital reading devices such as Kindle but I for one would never give up my books. You just can't curl up in a comfy chair with a warm mug off cocoa and your computer! It's not the same.

reply to this comment

Chris Steib Jan 12, 2009, 11:20am EST

Melle: the report was actually about reading across all mediums, so there's no specific indication of which format saw the strongest increase. But as far as sales go, adult hardcovers were down 25% year-over-year, whereas ebooks are up consistently %60+ from 2007. Paper's not going anywhere anytime soon, but expect the Kindle to become a great deal more commonplace.

And, frankly, it doesn't matter to me. As long as that percentage of adults who read literature keeps going up.

reply to this comment

L. H. Jan 12, 2009, 11:39am EST

Well, I'll have a magazine like the Civil War Times, AARP and word power in the readers digest open at the same time. I mark things sometime, that I especially like we also get NEWSWEEK, compliments of my dearest liberal brother, coin books, we have so many books, magazines around here even old one's that we collected, that I kind do dabble. BTW, my favorite is a good thriller. I also, look for good coupons, while I'm reading other things. We used to get the Baltimore mag, here, nice pictures, if your looking for articles and nice pictures, you might like the Baltimore mag.

Lately for some reason, I'm getting all kinds of literature from Nag's Head and the Outer Banks pretty pictures, also, I'm going to be getting a few new magazines, that were offered to me free, I will read most anything, but like "thriller's".

Southern Life is one that I'll be getting soon, I think.

reply to this comment

Nancy L. Jan 12, 2009, 2:52pm EST

I'm definitely reading more, but for me, it's more that I have time to do it now when I haven't in the past. I'm sure some of it is due to the need for less expensive entertainment; I've heard library business is booming.

And no, Steinbeckian is not a word- at least not according to Merriam-Webster. :)

reply to this comment