Debate Over Literary Decline: Can We Measure a Nation's Reading Culture?

In a recent essay for ArtsJournal, Michael Rushton explores whether statistical data can truly represent the literary culture of the English-speaking world. He refers to James Marriott's upcoming book, which posits that we are entering the 'dawn of the post-literate society,' and contrasts this with Henry Oliver's critique in The Common Reader. Rushton aligns more closely with Marriott, suggesting that statistical evaluations fall short. He points out that in 2025, the US will have over 600,000 traditionally published books and that 46.6% of adults in Indiana engage with literature, arguing these statistics fail to indicate quality. Rushton expresses similar doubts about other art forms, urging for more subjective criticism and warning against a decline in commentary quality. He concludes with a link to his Substack.