Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Interesting Facts About Reading

I read an interesting survey the other day. It was an AP (Associated Press) poll that gave the reading habits of Americans in 2006. There were 1,003 adults interviewed by phone. (Amazing, but the Gallup Poll in 2005 found similar results.) Some of the AP poll's facts were:
  • Among those who read in 2006, the average respondent read 7 books.
  • 25% of the adults polled said they didn't read any books.
  • The typical person read 4 books - half read fewer, half read more.

Who are the 25% of people the AP poll found had not read a single book in 2006?

  • Nearly a third of men and one-fourth of women tend to be older, less educated, lower income, minorities, from rural areas, and less religious.
  • Put another way, avid readers in current and past studies were found to be elderly, female, southern, religious, and educated.
  • Southerners who do read, however, tend to read more books, mostly religious and romance novels, than people from other regions.
  • Women read more of every category of books than men, except for history and biography.
  • The Bible and religious works were read by two-thirds in the survey, more than all other categories.
  • Popular fiction, histories, biographies and mysteries were all sited to be about half, while one in five read romance novels.
  • Every other genre - including politics, poetry and classical literature - were named by fewer than 5% of the readers.

I was surprised to find myself in this poll, although I wasn't interviewed. Are you there too? And how many books have you read this year? After all, the year is nearly over. I know the next few weeks will be extremely busy, what with Christmas events coming up, but you still have time to read a little in between the cracks. Come on by the library and pick up a small book to read.

Miss Edna at the Circulation Desk recommends the following:

  • Santa Cruise (a holiday mystery at sea) and The Christmas Thief (mystery) by Mary Higgins Clark
  • Fresh Elastic for Stretched Out Moms (inspirational) by Barbara Johnson
  • Glad Tidings, When Christmas Comes, and Christmas Letters (fiction) by Debbie Macomber
  • The Choice (fiction) by Nicholas Sparks
  • Skipping Christmas (fiction) by John Grisham.

Don't forget to bring your library card. And remember, reading IS a stress-buster!!!

No comments: