Twilight of the Books

Late last year, the above article appeared in The New Yorker magazine with the sub-title "What will life be like if people stop reading?" If you missed it earlier, it would still be a good read due to the large amount of data cited. Gallup, the Census Bureau, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Book Study Group (BISG), Department of Labor, Department of Education, and McLuhan are among the references utilized.

It is nicely written with not only a fondness for the book, but a real understanding of the reasons we read. What is alarming is that during the last 50+ years, reading in America has experienced a real decline despite the way in which we measure it. It has been not only television and video games, but our very own culture. Poor reading skills correlate heavily with lack of employment, lower wages, and fewer opportunities for advancement.

We book manufacturers know this. The BISG estimates that sales of books per person fell 5% in 2001-2006. The Department of Labor says that the dollars sold per year fell 2%/year from 1995 to 2005. Reading scores are also declining which is even more disturbing as we look forward.

Enough statistics; what's our challenge? We have heretofore regarded (including yours truly) technology as the main culprit. That may not be the only demon lurking. An insidious cultural change involving "viewing" information (such as through movies, TV, computers, and video games) rather than "reading" information could change how we think, process, and act.

Speaking of acting, what should be our response as ones who make and love the book? We must support AAP (Association of American Publishers) in their "Get Caught Reading" programs, and others like them; we must support our local organizations in teaching reading to the underprivileged; we must vigorously pursue technological improvements to reduce the cost, and therefore make the book more available; and we should be willing to change ourselves and the way we look at things, and do them. Why? Because it is the right thing. . . . and the status quo will kill us.