Books remain an incredible resource for learning and leisure, but the statistics could fool you. According to an article from the National Endowment of the Arts, the 2020s saw a slump in reading across Americans. Barely half of adults have even read a single book (48% as of 2022), and it has raised concerns for the educational growth of the country. Fortunately, books are hardly a scarce resource. If anything, the online world has made reading so much easier than before.
There are countless websites and communities online for readers to flourish. Sites such as Goodreads give readers a curated list to choose from rather than wading in blind. Meanwhile, technology such as ink-readers, from Kindle to Kobo, give readers thousands of books in the palm of their hand. So, with all these advantages, why does reading remain in a slump? To answer that, we must see what it contends with.
Why Reading Is “Harder” Nowadays
Reading must contend with a whole menagerie of hobbies these days to stand out. Some people may even mistake certain hobbies as “reading” because it involves seeing words on something. These hobbies aren’t necessarily bad for you, but they do have distinct ”advantages” that make them more captivating for the current generation.
For example, video games, a relatively young industry compared to books, now dominate the attention of billions. A survey reported by Statista even claims the penetration of gaming worldwide has reached 83%. A massive part of the success of video games boils down to how tactile it is for people. It’s an activity that demands action from its players. Unless it’s an idle clicking game, most titles will involve player agency.
In contrast, reading doesn’t hold your hand in the same way. On the surface, it should be easy. After all, it’s just seeing the words then turning the page to see more words. But that “dryness” plays a role in why people struggle to read. This extends to more than just fiction reading.
The educators at the University of North Carolina stated simply: “Reading is not studying.” Seeing the words is only half the battle. Look beyond the words and how they apply to real world use. The beauty comes from the doing, and in finding ways to make the words jump out for the reader is key.
How to Make Reading Engaging for New Readers
And there lies the secret sauce. To ease new readers into the habit, you must integrate interactivity into reading. As for how to make static pages come alive, there’s a few ways to boost that imagination. From modern innovations to tried-and-true classics, consider every avenue when converting new readers.
Read it Twice
For new readers especially, a single pass through a sentence may not be enough. Know the difference between skimming and reading. The more challenging a book’s prose, the more they should utilize this tactic. Reading a passage twice gives readers time to digest what happened in the text and avoid mistakes down the line. Encourage readers to backtrack, because that cultivates their sense of adventure.
Atmosphere
An environment conducive to reading is an absolute must for the best experience. Discourage distractions such as smartphones during reading time. It’s very easy to get distracted when there’s a whole world of reels and TikToks to sift through. Play some ambient music, set the perfect temperature, and read in absolute comfort.
Taking Notes
While reading, some readers may benefit from note taking. Keep a handy journal close by, or if you have an e-reader, highlight particularly interesting entries. Note taking turns reading into a fun “conversation” with the book. Sure, the book doesn’t “talk” back like one of those fancy chatbots. But the more you read, the more the book will respond to those notes. Plus, it will help with discussions in the future.
Adaptations
A great way to motivate people into reading is through adaptations. If they don’t trust that a story is as entertaining as you claim, a great adaptation can prove otherwise. Best of all, most adaptations never actually replace the reading experience. One of the best pastimes among avid readers is debating adaptations vs books. That sort of fun discourse can be attractive for some people.
Group Discussions
Finally, books can and often are a social affair. What do you think people did before smartphones and TVs? Online or face-to-face, group discussions can have some fantastic insights for readers. For the teachers, they can craft engaging audio-visual presentations for the classroom, to better showcase what makes the book so great.
Final Thoughts
Books will never go away, even as screens dominate the mainstream. When those blue lights get overwhelming, people will flock to something else to pass their time. As far as that’s concerned, reading is one of the most productive and beneficial time-passers one can have.
About the Author
Sophia Young is a storyteller with a love for fashion, weddings, and travel. She also knows her way around business, marketing, and finance — while still finding time to craft heartfelt pieces about family life.
