A sweeping new study has delivered sobering news for book lovers and educators: Americans are reading for pleasure far less than they did just two decades ago. According to research published in iScience on August 21, 2025, daily leisure reading in the United States has plummeted by more than 40% since 2003. Conducted collaboratively by the University of Florida and University College London, the study analyzed data from over 236,000 participants in the American Time Use Survey, painting a detailed picture of a nation steadily turning away from one of its most beloved pastimes.
"The gravity of this decline cannot be overstated," said Jill Sonke, Ph.D., director of research initiatives at the UF Center for Arts in Medicine and co-director of the EpiArts Lab, as reported by Scienmag. Sonke underscored that reading has long been one of society’s most accessible forms of creative engagement and intellectual enrichment. The findings show not only a drop in the number of people who read for fun, but also a deepening divide between those who do and those who don’t.
The numbers are stark: a consistent annual decrease of about 3% in daily leisure reading has been recorded, not just as a blip but as a sustained trend over 20 years. The decline is not evenly distributed. According to CNN, African Americans, people with lower incomes or educational attainment, and rural residents have experienced the steepest drops. By 2023, daily reading was 49% less prevalent among African Americans than White Americans, highlighting a growing disparity in access and opportunity.
Populations in rural regions have also seen a more pronounced drop compared to their metropolitan counterparts. The data suggests that economic pressures—longer work hours, multiple jobs, and transportation challenges—are squeezing leisure time, especially in areas with limited access to libraries and bookstores. Limited availability of culturally relevant or affordable reading materials further compounds the problem for many communities.
Yet, the study’s authors caution against oversimplifying the causes. The rise of digital media has created a fiercely competitive landscape for attention, with shorter, fragmented content often winning out over the sustained focus required by traditional reading. Jessica Bone, Ph.D., senior research fellow at University College London, observed a polarization effect: while a subset of active readers is investing more time in reading, a growing portion of the population has disengaged entirely.
Women and individuals with higher educational attainment remain more likely to read regularly, but even within these groups, the trend is downward. The research, as published in iScience, points to a cultural evolution, not just a fleeting change in habits. Teresa Cremin, professor of education and co-director of the Centre for Literacy and Social Justice at The Open University, likened reading to a “workout for the brain,” emphasizing its role in nurturing critical and creative thinking, as well as cognitive patience and sustained concentration.
Reading for pleasure is more than just a cultural pastime—it’s a public health asset. The EpiArts Lab’s research, which bridges epidemiological data with arts engagement, reinforces that reading is linked to an array of mental health benefits: stress reduction, empathy development, creativity stimulation, and lifelong cognitive resilience. “Low-hanging fruit around relaxation is really important today,” Sonke told CNN, especially as people face more stress and less leisure time in the digital age. Books, she notes, are often more accessible than galleries or theaters, making them a uniquely democratic form of cultural engagement.
One bright spot in the findings is the stability of reading-to-children practices. Over the past two decades, the proportion of families reading to young children has not seen a steep decline. Still, the numbers are sobering: of the more than 236,000 people surveyed, only about 2% of families with children under age nine read with them regularly. “We know that for children, being read to is linked to preparation for reading, preparation for early education, and it's also linked to reading attainment later on,” Sonke explained. Beyond academic benefits, she highlighted the importance of family bonding: “My motivation for reading to my kids was certainly about educational attainment and readiness, but it was really an important bonding time in our family, and we also know that bonding with children is really important to their well-being.”
Cremin added that adult modeling is crucial: “When adults position themselves as fellow readers, my own research indicates that they model the value and satisfaction they find in their own literate lives and induct young people into such pleasures.” Early engagement, she suggests, can help address social inequities and foster lifelong reading habits.
Despite the worrisome overall trend, there are reasons for hope. Certain genres—romance, fantasy, and mystery—have experienced surges in popularity, showing that people are still eager to read when they find material that resonates. Cybil Wallace, managing editor at Goodreads, told CNN that finding the right genre and creating community around books are key strategies for rekindling reading habits. “Whatever you enjoy reading can offer benefit,” she said, encouraging readers to explore everything from cozy romances to thick history tomes.
Book clubs, social media communities, and podcasts have also helped reinvigorate interest in reading. “Reading itself is very solitary: You're sitting alone for hours on end with a book,” Wallace noted. “But I think the process of finding books, of sharing books, of talking about books, is really another side of it.” The communal aspect of reading—whether through in-person gatherings or online forums—can be a powerful motivator and support system.
Experts recommend practical steps for families and individuals aiming to boost reading in their lives. Setting aside phone-free time for reading together, exploring audiobooks or e-books if they’re more accessible, and choosing books that match personal interests are all encouraged. “If you haven't found your genre yet, try looking at the movies, shows, or other cultural elements you enjoy and find books that fit those interests,” Wallace advised.
Policy and community-based interventions are also essential. The study’s authors advocate for bolstering library systems, supporting community reading programs, and developing digital literacy initiatives that leverage technology’s strengths rather than letting it undermine reading habits. Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D., co-director of the EpiArts Lab, highlighted the importance of reading with children as a uniquely potent activity supporting literacy, social, and emotional development.
The American Time Use Survey, the foundation of this research, offers a nationally representative and methodologically rigorous snapshot of American reading habits. Its detailed, self-reported data allows for nuanced understanding of trends and disparities, equipping policymakers and educators with actionable insights.
Ultimately, the steady erosion of leisure reading in the United States signals more than just a shift in how Americans spend their free time. It represents a challenge to the nation’s educational, cultural, and public health frameworks. As Sonke put it, reading has historically been “one of the most low-barrier, high-impact avenues for creative engagement and quality of life improvement.” The task ahead is to harness community, educational, and technological resources to rekindle a widespread love of reading—and ensure that the next generation inherits a culture enriched, not impoverished, by literature.
