From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of the total
books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans who say they
read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books read. Add in
the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and the 9% who
read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult citizens
account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
The middle 40% read 18% of all books, and the bottom 40% read no books.
From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of the total
books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books read. Add in
the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and the 9% who
read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult citizens
account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
On 1/23/26 10:34 PM, Jay Morris wrote:
From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of the total
books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books read. Add in
the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and the 9% who
read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult citizens account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
I'm somewhere in the 10-19 range, but most of the books I read are substantial nonfiction works, so I think that counts for more than
people who read a "cozy" novel a week. Currently I'm plowing through _Toscanini: Musician of Conscience_, which is huge.
On 1/23/26 10:34 PM, Jay Morris wrote:
˙From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a
minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of
the total books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans
who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books
read. Add in the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and
the 9% who read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult
citizens account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
I'm somewhere in the 10-19 range, but most of the books I read are substantial nonfiction works, so I think that counts for more than
people who read a "cozy" novel a week. Currently I'm plowing through _Toscanini: Musician of Conscience_, which is huge.
On 1/24/26 07:00, Gary McGath wrote:
On 1/23/26 10:34 PM, Jay Morris wrote:
?From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a
minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of
the total books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans
who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books
andread. Add in the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books,
adultthe 9% who read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S.
At 944 pages, that is substantial, but (ever the competitor) I will notecitizens account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
I'm somewhere in the 10-19 range, but most of the books I read are
substantial nonfiction works, so I think that counts for more than
people who read a "cozy" novel a week. Currently I'm plowing through
_Toscanini: Musician of Conscience_, which is huge.
that I'm about a third of the way through the Everyman edition of George
Orwell's essays, which clocks in at 1416 pages.
OTOH, I am also reading a lot of the "Very Short Introduction" series,
which run about 150 pages each, so I guess it balances out.
Last year, I read 106 books, about 60% non-fiction and 40% fiction of >various sorts (SF, mystery, mainstream). I will note that I am retired
and am no longer a caregiver, which does give me more time to read than
many people have.
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous read
authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle.
On Sat, 24 Jan 2026 07:33:49 -0500, "Evelyn C. Leeper" ><evelynchimelisleeper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/24/26 07:00, Gary McGath wrote:
On 1/23/26 10:34 PM, Jay Morris wrote:At 944 pages, that is substantial, but (ever the competitor) I will note= >=20
=A0From a YouGov poll.=20
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a=20
minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of=20 >>>> the total books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans= >=20
who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books= >=20
read. Add in the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, = >and=20
the 9% who read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. = >adult=20
citizens account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
I'm somewhere in the 10-19 range, but most of the books I read are=20
substantial nonfiction works, so I think that counts for more than=20
people who read a "cozy" novel a week. Currently I'm plowing through=20
_Toscanini: Musician of Conscience_, which is huge.
=20
that I'm about a third of the way through the Everyman edition of George= >=20
Orwell's essays, which clocks in at 1416 pages.
OTOH, I am also reading a lot of the "Very Short Introduction" series,=20 >>which run about 150 pages each, so I guess it balances out.
Last year, I read 106 books, about 60% non-fiction and 40% fiction of=20 >>various sorts (SF, mystery, mainstream). I will note that I am retired=20 >>and am no longer a caregiver, which does give me more time to read than=20 >>many people have.
I haven't counted them, but I am reading mostly eBooks, all fiction. I
am rereading some non-fiction books, and then there are the
(non-fiction) magazines, whose primary purpose is to give me something
to read at the laundromat.
Verily, in article <mks9nkhvp5a7257t4o59qve1av3drpc3ub@4ax.com>, did >psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous read
authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle.
Farnham's Freehold is probably the weirdest Heinlein I ever read, though
I haven't read them all. I recall being disappointed in the handling of >Grace, the protagonist's wife.
From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of the total
books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books read. Add in
the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and the 9% who
read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult citizens
account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
The middle 40% read 18% of all books, and the bottom 40% read no books.
https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/53804-most-americans-didnt-read-many-books-in-2025
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
On Sat, 24 Jan 2026 07:33:49 -0500, "Evelyn C. Leeper"
<evelynchimelisleeper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/24/26 07:00, Gary McGath wrote:=20
On 1/23/26 10:34 PM, Jay Morris wrote:
=A0From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a=20
minority reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of=20 >>>>> the total books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans=
=20who say they read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books=
and=20read. Add in the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, =
adult=20the 9% who read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. =
At 944 pages, that is substantial, but (ever the competitor) I will note= >> =20citizens account for 82% of all books read in 2025.=20
I'm somewhere in the 10-19 range, but most of the books I read are=20
substantial nonfiction works, so I think that counts for more than=20
people who read a "cozy" novel a week. Currently I'm plowing through=20 >>>> _Toscanini: Musician of Conscience_, which is huge.
=20
that I'm about a third of the way through the Everyman edition of George= >> =20
Orwell's essays, which clocks in at 1416 pages.
OTOH, I am also reading a lot of the "Very Short Introduction" series,=20 >>> which run about 150 pages each, so I guess it balances out.
Last year, I read 106 books, about 60% non-fiction and 40% fiction of=20 >>> various sorts (SF, mystery, mainstream). I will note that I am retired=20 >>> and am no longer a caregiver, which does give me more time to read than=20 >>> many people have.
I haven't counted them, but I am reading mostly eBooks, all fiction. I
am rereading some non-fiction books, and then there are the
(non-fiction) magazines, whose primary purpose is to give me something
to read at the laundromat.
While most of my reading is on the Kobo reader, I haunt antique stores regulary and have been picking up a bunch of history and technical books
from the late 19th through the mid 20th century. One, in particular,
which documents the United States diplomatic history in the four decades before the first WWI is fascinating, particularly as current world affairs mirror that history in many respects.
_The Diplomacy of the Great War_ by Arthur Bullard. Published in 1917.
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <mks9nkhvp5a7257t4o59qve1av3drpc3ub@4ax.com>, did >>psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous read
authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle.
Farnham's Freehold is probably the weirdest Heinlein I ever read, though
I haven't read them all. I recall being disappointed in the handling of >>Grace, the protagonist's wife.
For someone who grew up in KC in the early 1900's, Grace would not
have been at all unusual, sadly.
Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <mks9nkhvp5a7257t4o59qve1av3drpc3ub@4ax.com>, did >>psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous read
authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle.
Farnham's Freehold is probably the weirdest Heinlein I ever read, though >>I haven't read them all. I recall being disappointed in the handling of >>Grace, the protagonist's wife.
For someone who grew up in KC in the early 1900's, Grace would not
have been at all unusual, sadly.
Yes, when I read Farnham's Freehold as a child, I thought it was a pretty good characterization of my mother and many of her friends. Today it may
not be believable but my mother would not be either.
Verily, in article <10l5dta$kcs$1@panix2.panix.com>, did
kludge@panix.com deliver unto us this message:
Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <mks9nkhvp5a7257t4o59qve1av3drpc3ub@4ax.com>, did
psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous readFarnham's Freehold is probably the weirdest Heinlein I ever read, though >> >>I haven't read them all. I recall being disappointed in the handling of >> >>Grace, the protagonist's wife.
authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle. >> >>
For someone who grew up in KC in the early 1900's, Grace would not
have been at all unusual, sadly.
Yes, when I read Farnham's Freehold as a child, I thought it was a pretty
good characterization of my mother and many of her friends. Today it may
not be believable but my mother would not be either.
At one point, the protagonist tells the chippie^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hnew love >interest that Grace seems crummy now but was great when they were first >married. There's a line something like "Grace has always been
magnificent under adversity. It was prosperity she couldn't handle."
Based on that line, I was hoping and half-expecting that Grace would
step up tall and reveal hidden depths once adversity returned.
Instead... well, you've read it and know what happens.
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <10l5dta$kcs$1@panix2.panix.com>, did
kludge@panix.com deliver unto us this message:
Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <mks9nkhvp5a7257t4o59qve1av3drpc3ub@4ax.com>, did
psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous readFarnham's Freehold is probably the weirdest Heinlein I ever read, though
authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle. >> >>
I haven't read them all. I recall being disappointed in the handling of >> >>Grace, the protagonist's wife.
For someone who grew up in KC in the early 1900's, Grace would not
have been at all unusual, sadly.
Yes, when I read Farnham's Freehold as a child, I thought it was a pretty >> good characterization of my mother and many of her friends. Today it may >> not be believable but my mother would not be either.
At one point, the protagonist tells the chippie^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hnew love >interest that Grace seems crummy now but was great when they were first >married. There's a line something like "Grace has always been
magnificent under adversity. It was prosperity she couldn't handle."
Based on that line, I was hoping and half-expecting that Grace would
step up tall and reveal hidden depths once adversity returned.
Instead... well, you've read it and know what happens.
I wonder how much RAH's second wife influenced the portrayal of Grace?
On 24/01/26 16:34, Jay Morris wrote:
From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a minority
reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of the total
books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans who say they
read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books read. Add in
the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and the 9% who
read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult citizens
account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
The middle 40% read 18% of all books, and the bottom 40% read no books.
With regard to fiction.
What is the point? Dimwire reads lots of young adult books but doesn't
learn much, just saying a well bound aaah and oooh. J D Vance had the
talent to actually write one and became Vice President, but that might
have been because Peter Thiel wanted a powerful puppet.
I love reading books for vicarious pleasures and to stimulate my
imagination but I have heard that some people have active lives which
have no necessity to escape from reality.
Verily, in article <13sdR.899031$yE3b.455803@fx16.iad>, did >scott@slp53.sl.home deliver unto us this message:
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <10l5dta$kcs$1@panix2.panix.com>, did
kludge@panix.com deliver unto us this message:
Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <mks9nkhvp5a7257t4o59qve1av3drpc3ub@4ax.com>, did >> >> >>psperson@old.netcom.invalid deliver unto us this message:
Incidentally, in the eBook series where I catch up on previous read >> >> >>> authors, I found that /Farnham's Freehold/ is now available on Kindle.
Farnham's Freehold is probably the weirdest Heinlein I ever read, though
I haven't read them all. I recall being disappointed in the handling of
Grace, the protagonist's wife.
For someone who grew up in KC in the early 1900's, Grace would not
have been at all unusual, sadly.
Yes, when I read Farnham's Freehold as a child, I thought it was a pretty >> >> good characterization of my mother and many of her friends. Today it may >> >> not be believable but my mother would not be either.
At one point, the protagonist tells the chippie^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hnew love
interest that Grace seems crummy now but was great when they were first
married. There's a line something like "Grace has always been
magnificent under adversity. It was prosperity she couldn't handle."
Based on that line, I was hoping and half-expecting that Grace would
step up tall and reveal hidden depths once adversity returned.
Instead... well, you've read it and know what happens.
I wonder how much RAH's second wife influenced the portrayal of Grace?
Virginia? Wasn't she the very conservative woman who influenced Heinlein >away from his "grok and share water" early days?
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <13sdR.899031$yE3b.455803@fx16.iad>, did >scott@slp53.sl.home deliver unto us this message:
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> writes:
Verily, in article <10l5dta$kcs$1@panix2.panix.com>, didI wonder how much RAH's second wife influenced the portrayal of Grace?
kludge@panix.com deliver unto us this message:
Virginia? Wasn't she the very conservative woman who influenced Heinlein >away from his "grok and share water" early days?
No, Leslyn.
Virginia was #3.
Virginia? Wasn't she the very conservative woman who influenced Heinlein
away from his "grok and share water" early days?
On 1/23/26 20:05, Titus G wrote:
On 24/01/26 16:34, Jay Morris wrote:
˙From a YouGov poll.
With most Americans reading no books or just a few books, and a minority >>> reading lots of books, that means that the distribution of the total
books read in the U.S. is very unequal. The 4% of Americans who say they >>> read 50 or more books alone account for 46% of all books read. Add in
the 6% of Americans who read between 20 and 49 books, and the 9% who
read between 10 and 19 books, and the top 19% of U.S. adult citizens
account for 82% of all books read in 2025.
The middle 40% read 18% of all books, and the bottom 40% read no books.
With regard to fiction.
What is the point? Dimwire reads lots of young adult books but doesn't
learn much, just saying a well bound aaah and oooh. J D Vance had the
talent to actually write one and became Vice President, but that might
have been because Peter Thiel wanted a powerful puppet.
I love reading books for vicarious pleasures and to stimulate my
imagination but I have heard that some people have active lives which
have no necessity to escape from reality.
˙˙˙˙Actually escape from reality is in every home that can afford it.
˙˙˙˙˙˙˙ Level 1 broadcast TV
˙˙˙˙˙˙˙ Level 2 Cable TV
˙˙˙˙˙˙˙ Level 3 Streaming TV
˙˙˙˙˙˙˙ and then there are movies.
˙˙˙˙
˙˙˙˙So there is not need to read for those who want escape from reality.
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