Reading for pleasure builds empathy in children, but fewer kids are picking up books just for the fun of it

Reading allows children to live in a vibrant world, surrounded by fairies, elves and talking animals, transporting them to ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Reading for Pleasure Has Declined by a ‘Deeply Concerning’ 40 Percent Over the Past Two Decades

When was the last time you curled up with a good book or flipped through the pages of a magazine? If it’s been a while, you’re not alone: The number of Americans who read for fun has plummeted over ...
Los Angeles Times

Enjoying this headline? You’re a rarity: Reading for pleasure is declining, study says

Researchers fear the reading decline reflects how many Americans have less and less leisure time. “Reading for pleasure, among other forms of arts participation, is a health behavior,” said one author ...
CNN

‘Romantasy’ is on the rise, but reading for pleasure has fallen drastically over the past 20 years

Sarah J. Maas, Freida McFadden and Emily Henry –– can these popular authors join forces and save the day against a dangerous decline in reading for enjoyment? Daily reading for pleasure has plummeted ...
The New York Times

Summer Reading Challenges Aren’t Just for Kids

Riding a wave of growing enthusiasm for reading, many bookstores and libraries have expanded their programming to let grown-ups in on the literary fun. By Anna Diamond Anna Diamond grew up ...
The New York Times

7 Podcasts for Bookworms

In a world filled with digital distractions, these shows will help you indulge, develop or rekindle a love for reading. By Emma Dibdin Reading rates are declining — a recent study showed that the ...
The Conversation

Children aren’t reading for pleasure according to new research – here’s how you can help them love books

The National Literacy Trust’s annual literacy survey 2025 reveals that one in three children and young people do not enjoy reading, with only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds stating that they enjoy ...