Why Americans Stopped Reading Books: A Post-Literate Era

A new analysis by Jared Henderson, presented in a video titled "Why Everyone Stopped Reading," explores the decline in book reading among Americans. The video, featured on Open Culture, attributes this trend to several factors, including the shift from phonics to "whole language learning" in American schools, which failed to improve literacy rates. Additionally, educational reforms emphasizing short informational texts and standardized testing prioritized information extraction over deep textual engagement, as highlighted in Rose Horowitch's 2024 Atlantic article "Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books." The proliferation of smartphones and short-form videos has further eroded reading habits, with Americans reading less than ever before. According to Horowitch's new piece on America's "post-literacy," fewer than half of adults reported reading a book in 2022, and only 38% read a novel or short story. Gambling has become more common than reading, with 57% of Americans placing a bet last year. The concept of a shift from textual to oral culture was foreseen by Marshall McLuhan, Neil Postman, and Walter J. Ong, and more recently described by David Bowie in his Tin Machine period. The article also references related content on reading, including pieces on emotional intelligence, challenging books, and the antilibrary concept.