Overview

• The share of Americans reading for pleasure on a given day dropped to 16% in 2023 from 28% in 2004, according to an iScience analysis of more than 236,000 American Time Use Survey diaries from 2003–2023.
• The study counted books, magazines, and newspapers across print, electronic, and audio formats, indicating the decline is not explained by a shift to digital media.
• Disparities widened across the period, with higher‑educated and higher‑income adults significantly more likely to read for fun than those with less education or lower incomes.
• Although over 20% of respondents had a child under 9, only about 2% reported reading with a child on a given day, a pattern researchers and librarians flagged as especially concerning.
• The authors did not establish causes, suggesting possibilities such as social media use and work pressures, while public‑health researchers and library leaders call for community interventions to increase engagement.