I found these stats below on Jennifer Shirk's post about reading.
58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
42% of college graduates never read another book.
80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
I've seen similiar statistics in the past. I'm not really all that surpised. I know more bookless people than book lovers.
Here is a story about one of the bookless people I've recently lost a book to....
I got the last book in my latest Amazon.com order today. It is a book from an author buddy named Michelle Perry called Three Motives for Murder. The funny thing was that I was thinking about one of her books the other day. I'd lent out In Enemy Hands to someone that told me she loves romantic suspense. The other day when I asked her if she'd finished, she gave me one of those blank stares. She can't seem to recall I gave her any book, much less Michelle's book. I didn't ask her if that meant she loves watching romanctic and suspenseful movies and TV. Nor did I ask for my book back. I just figured it is time for me to hit Amazon.com again.
Which Reminds Me
Some people are still reading plenty.
My brother works at Amazon.com and they are so busy this week that the they're asking for volunteers for overtime. If the orders keep coming at this rate, they're in for mandatory overtime. He expects to work 60 hours next week.
He already expects to work lots of overtime when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released next month. He says that they already have some of the pre-orders and that the publisher insists they hire special security to make sure no boxes make it out of the warehouse. That book is so popular that it caught the eye of even non-readers.
What The Market Can Bear
Heard that saying a lot lately when the media is discussing gas prices?
I sure have, and I can't bear the current gas prices. Truly, I can't. Something had to give.
I have to spend just over $210 a month to get back and forth to work. No guess about that. I car pool. It helps. But the fact is I commute 50+ miles a day and I use 3 tanks each month minimum. Sadly, when I got hired I had to spend about $150 a month. Even though I carpool and it helps, I still had to eliminate the 4-gallons I used to use each month on my expeditions to B&N and Borders (which is a commute too from where I live). That was very easy because Amazon.com is willing to deliver what I want directly to my mailbox at no additional charge.
58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
42% of college graduates never read another book.
80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
I've seen similiar statistics in the past. I'm not really all that surpised. I know more bookless people than book lovers.
Here is a story about one of the bookless people I've recently lost a book to....
I got the last book in my latest Amazon.com order today. It is a book from an author buddy named Michelle Perry called Three Motives for Murder. The funny thing was that I was thinking about one of her books the other day. I'd lent out In Enemy Hands to someone that told me she loves romantic suspense. The other day when I asked her if she'd finished, she gave me one of those blank stares. She can't seem to recall I gave her any book, much less Michelle's book. I didn't ask her if that meant she loves watching romanctic and suspenseful movies and TV. Nor did I ask for my book back. I just figured it is time for me to hit Amazon.com again.
Which Reminds Me
Some people are still reading plenty.
My brother works at Amazon.com and they are so busy this week that the they're asking for volunteers for overtime. If the orders keep coming at this rate, they're in for mandatory overtime. He expects to work 60 hours next week.
He already expects to work lots of overtime when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released next month. He says that they already have some of the pre-orders and that the publisher insists they hire special security to make sure no boxes make it out of the warehouse. That book is so popular that it caught the eye of even non-readers.
What The Market Can Bear
Heard that saying a lot lately when the media is discussing gas prices?
I sure have, and I can't bear the current gas prices. Truly, I can't. Something had to give.
I have to spend just over $210 a month to get back and forth to work. No guess about that. I car pool. It helps. But the fact is I commute 50+ miles a day and I use 3 tanks each month minimum. Sadly, when I got hired I had to spend about $150 a month. Even though I carpool and it helps, I still had to eliminate the 4-gallons I used to use each month on my expeditions to B&N and Borders (which is a commute too from where I live). That was very easy because Amazon.com is willing to deliver what I want directly to my mailbox at no additional charge.
One good thing is that I've got a Borders about 15 - 20 minutes away. And I've got their rewards card, so I'm constantly getting discount coupons. Otherwise, I'd not be buy all the great books coming out. :)
ReplyDeleteVery sad statistics. It always amazes me how few people read anything more than the sports page or TV listings. Of course, a lot of people read online now instead of cracking open a print book, but still.... I know for a fact that I have more books than the other 23 apartments in my building combined.
ReplyDeleteI've actually never ordered any books from Amazon, as I am quite spoiled by the number of bookstores in Madison, both new and used. The grocery store and bank are next to Half Price Books, with B&N, Waldens and Frugal Muse (plus a few dept. stores) only 1 to 2 miles from there (plus they have locations eastside as well). Then there are Borders, University Bookstore, Booked For Murder, A Room of One's Own, and a few other book shops down town. Yup, I am thoroughly spoiled!
Tempest ... I like their coupons too. I did stop going back to redeem every coupon. I think I'll stop by this weekend because the library is having a booksale nearby on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteHeather ... I used to live next door to some romance loving readers. That was fun. We swapped all the time. But it has been a long, long time since I met anyone like that in person.