Statistics

[Brae]

In regards to writing a book, I found some interesting information that I wanted to pass along!

1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
57 percent of new books are not read to completion.
70 percent of books published do not earn back their advance.
70 percent of the books published do not make a profit.

53 percent read fiction, 43 percent read nonfiction. The favorite fiction category is mystery and suspense, at 19 percent.
55 percent of fiction is bought by women, 45 percent by men.

About 120,000 books are published each year in the U.S.

A successful fiction book sells 5,000 copies.
A successful nonfiction book sells 7,500 copies.

On average, a bookstore browser spends 8 seconds looking at a book's front cover and 15 seconds looking at the back cover.

Each day in the U.S., people spend 4 hours watching TV, 3 hours listening to the radio and 14 minutes reading magazines.

After reading these stats it makes you wonder why you would even want to write a book, but don't ever have your dream squashed by the world. I encourage everyone to continue writing. You matter and your words matter.

[suzy1124]

fascinating!...I love this type of " trivia "

[DATo]

Very interesting. Most of these stats, sadly, do not surprise me. I was surprised to learn that 120,000 books are published each year in the U.S.A. of which apparently 84,000 result in a financial loss for the publisher. Now I understand why a novel sometimes costs $30: they got to recover their losses so they gouge the reader.

[ALynnPowers]

These are awesome! Thank you so much!

It makes me realize how all of us on this site are minorities!

We should feel special!

[Gravy]

Very special indeed!

[Artiste8]

Very sad. Those people who don't read, don't know what they are missing.

[PashaRu]

These are awesome! Thank you so much!

It makes me realize how all of us on this site are minorities!

We should feel special!

Haha, we're special alright! :ridingtheshortbus:

[Eggroll]

Any proof? Not sure I buy those. (I mean the ones regarding how little people read)

[TammyO]

These statistics are really amazing; I had no idea book sales were this low. I really do have a deeper appreciation for authors knowing what they are up against. And to think most of them accrue losses even though much work and time is involved in the creative process.

[TLGabelman]

The first statistic was the most shocking for me!

[LivreAmour217]

Wow, scary!!! I really hope that these stats are inflated, because if they're not, then the US is in big trouble

[ylisa7]

Thanks for the info.

I find it interesting that high school graduates read more than college graduates after their school years. Maybe that has something to do with the older generation. I know very few people, outside of here, who read but the ones that I do know are all over 55. Many men and especial;ly women of that generation did not go to college.



On a side note, I want to know why I am never picked for these surveys. I have never been part of a big survey

[ALynnPowers]

Thanks for the info.

I find it interesting that high school graduates read more than college graduates after their school years. Maybe that has something to do with the older generation. I know very few people, outside of here, who read but the ones that I do know are all over 55. Many men and especial;ly women of that generation did not go to college.



On a side note, I want to know why I am never picked for these surveys. I have never been part of a big survey

Me neither! If they asked all of us, the results might have been quite a bit different?

What if they were standing outside of a drug rehab facility while they asked these questions or something? Not that there is anything wrong with that... but I'm just saying. Location matters...

[ylisa7]

Thanks for the info.

I find it interesting that high school graduates read more than college graduates after their school years. Maybe that has something to do with the older generation. I know very few people, outside of here, who read but the ones that I do know are all over 55. Many men and especial;ly women of that generation did not go to college.



On a side note, I want to know why I am never picked for these surveys. I have never been part of a big survey

Me neither! If they asked all of us, the results might have been quite a bit different?

What if they were standing outside of a drug rehab facility while they asked these questions or something? Not that there is anything wrong with that... but I'm just saying. Location matters...

That's the problem with surveys. They can be very misleading but I still love reading them

[ALynnPowers]

That's the problem with surveys. They can be very misleading but I still love reading them

That's true!
Or they could just be made up completely! Whoa. And we would never know that!