Why don't Americans read?

[Maud Fitch]

I read 1-2 books per week plus the audio book I have going in the car for my work commute. My son reads at least 1 book per week if not more. I'd say plenty of Americans read. The ones that don't are just crazycakes.

I hope you read plenty of international content and don't become too introverted. (Just love that word 'crazycakes')

[Tralala]

They do. They are called gossip magazines. haha

That's right! Everybody's gotta know what celebs are up to...if Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen get married, I'll buy another house!

WHO?

(((((((((Fran))))))))))....I love you! *gets down on one knee.................adjusts sock*
Just a couple of "celebrities"...best known for their drunken/drug addled antics.

[Ant]

Absolutely no offense taken Mel, I like the way Americans can still say what they feel in this crazy politically correct world, without resorting to sarcasm as I have seen here sometimes in this very forum.
Anyway, back to the original question, I do think plenty of Americans read, they probably just don't feel the need to discuss it with anyone else, different culture and all that.

[Tralala]

I like the way Americans can still say what they feel in this crazy politically correct world, without resorting to sarcasm as I have seen here sometimes in this very forum.

Sarcasm? In this forum? Noooooo......

[pa3de8]

Here's why Americans don't read:

We've become a fat, lazy country. It's all about instant gratification for Americans. We have fast food, computers that do everything for us, and "social networking" sites such as Facebook & MySpace. We keep making things easier for people to use with effort in attaining it. Is that a good enough answer?

Everything today revolves around instant gratification. Not many people are willing to sit down and take time out of their fast food eating, computing, and social networking lives to sit down, pick up a book and read. Now they have E-books. Something else that gratifies the computer geek/book reader because now instead of getting off your butt to go out to the book store, you can download the book off the net with a few keystrokes of your credit card number. The E-book has cost many people their jobs whether directly or indirectly. Ask the now defunct book stores such as Borders, Waldenbooks, etc. If someone could figure out how to down a Whopper or Big Mac off the net, we'd never leave the house and Burger King, McDonald's and all the others would be closed too!

Reading is a lost art in my opinion. You have to read to keep you mind open, broaden your vocabulary(without playing Scrabble online) and sharp. Anyone can sit there behind a computer monitor with a Whopper or Bic Mac in their hands while on Facebook talking about yesterdays episode of American Idol crap!...PICK UP A BOOK AMERICA!
I graciously step down off my soapbox.


Scott B.

[Ant]

That's pretty much how it is in most countries with easy internet access now Scott, computers do a lot of good but they have a dark side.

[pa3de8]

That's pretty much how it is in most countries with easy internet access now Scott, computers do a lot of good but they have a dark side.

I agree Ant. Computers are great wonderful for certain things(research, mapping, etc.) but they also suck the life out of us as well and take us away from the simple things.


Scott B.

[Bighuey]

Here's why Americans don't read:

We've become a fat, lazy country. It's all about instant gratification for Americans. We have fast food, computers that do everything for us, and "social networking" sites such as Facebook & MySpace. We keep making things easier for people to use with effort in attaining it. Is that a good enough answer?

Everything today revolves around instant gratification. Not many people are willing to sit down and take time out of their fast food eating, computing, and social networking lives to sit down, pick up a book and read. Now they have E-books. Something else that gratifies the computer geek/book reader because now instead of getting off your butt to go out to the book store, you can download the book off the net with a few keystrokes of your credit card number. The E-book has cost many people their jobs whether directly or indirectly. Ask the now defunct book stores such as Borders, Waldenbooks, etc. If someone could figure out how to down a Whopper or Big Mac off the net, we'd never leave the house and Burger King, McDonald's and all the others would be closed too!

Reading is a lost art in my opinion. You have to read to keep you mind open, broaden your vocabulary(without playing Scrabble online) and sharp. Anyone can sit there behind a computer monitor with a Whopper or Bic Mac in their hands while on Facebook talking about yesterdays episode of American Idol crap!...PICK UP A BOOK AMERICA!
I graciously step down off my soapbox.


Scott B.

That hits the nail right on the head. I agree whole-heartedly.

[WebKat]

I can't totally agree with the negativity. I have a Kindle and I read more now than I used to when I read dead-tree books. And I used to read those at a rate of about 1 per 4-5 days. Now I can put my Kindle in my purse and read in a lot of situations where previously I wouldn't have had a book with me. Also, due to our having moved into a smaller house, all of my book collection (modest; about 950 books, scanned into a database to keep track of) is in boxes in storage. If I were still buying paper books at the rate that I read books... we'd be overrun! My Kindle allows me to amass a vast library without taking up space. I can read anywhere I am. I read more now than ever before. How is this a bad thing? I feel bad for those who lost their jobs, but there will be new jobs in new industries as our society learns to adapt to the digital age.

[Tralala]

Computers are great wonderful for certain things(research, mapping, etc.) but they also suck the life out of us as well and take us away from the simple things.
Scott B.

I knew it! I want a raise!
Boy, if any one of my bosses ever reads this stuff...brother, can you spare a mortgage payment? This is my pathetic form of rebellion.

[pa3de8]

I can't totally agree with the negativity. I have a Kindle and I read more now than I used to when I read dead-tree books. And I used to read those at a rate of about 1 per 4-5 days. Now I can put my Kindle in my purse and read in a lot of situations where previously I wouldn't have had a book with me. Also, due to our having moved into a smaller house, all of my book collection (modest; about 950 books, scanned into a database to keep track of) is in boxes in storage. If I were still buying paper books at the rate that I read books... we'd be overrun! My Kindle allows me to amass a vast library without taking up space. I can read anywhere I am. I read more now than ever before. How is this a bad thing? I feel bad for those who lost their jobs, but there will be new jobs in new industries as our society learns to adapt to the digital age.

Everyone finds the good in something I guess. What works for some doesn't for others. I just answered why I see Americans don't read. I call it as I see it. I don't sugar coat anything and that's my nature. I am not against technology except for when it takes away peoples livelihoods.


Scott B.

-- Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:35 am --

Computers are great wonderful for certain things(research, mapping, etc.) but they also suck the life out of us as well and take us away from the simple things.
Scott B.

I knew it! I want a raise!
Boy, if any one of my bosses ever reads this stuff...brother, can you spare a mortgage payment? This is my pathetic form of rebellion.

Tralala,

Give me you bosses number, I'll tell him you need a raise!!!

Scott B.

[Vonta]

I think we have too many distractions and because both parents tend to work and/ or the rise in single family homes, I don't think they spend as much time as parents used to reading to their children. Also we don't necessarily live with our extended family members (grandparents) who would and could help pick up some of the slack.

[Tralala]

I think we have too many distractions and because both parents tend to work and/ or the rise in single family homes, I don't think they spend as much time as parents used to reading to their children. Also we don't necessarily live with our extended family members (grandparents) who would and could help pick up some of the slack.

I think you're right, but I also think that's a poor excuse. I've been raising my kids purt' near on my own since they were little, and I always found time to read to them. Even if it's just an hour on the weekend.

Tralala,

Give me you bosses number, I'll tell him you need a raise!!!

Scott B.

You can email 'em at satanspawn@eighthcircleofhell/secondbolgia.com....hahahahaaaaa....yyyeah. I always wanted to be a beautician, anyway.

[Mel Carriere]

I was raised in a one parent home, and no one ever read to me, but there were plenty of books around for me to sink my teeth into, and not much else to do besides Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Genie reruns. On Sunday nights the only thing on TV was Lawrence Welk, so you can understand why we read so much back then. Today there are just too many distractions, but that seems to be the condition all over the civilized world, so why is it that Americans in particular don't do much reading, if you judge by the geographical distribution of posts on this forum.

[Tralala]

I was raised in a one parent home, and no one ever read to me, but there were plenty of books around for me to sink my teeth into, and not much else to do besides Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Genie reruns. On Sunday nights the only thing on TV was Lawrence Welk, so you can understand why we read so much back then. Today there are just too many distractions, but that seems to be the condition all over the civilized world, so why is it that Americans in particular don't do much reading, if you judge by the geographical distribution of posts on this forum.

Did you grow up in an urban area? 'Cause, cripes, I was outside as often as I could be, when I was a kid. My folks had about three acres, and it was all woods/farmland surrounding, so nobody really cared about a few kids tear-assing around. I hated it when I was a teenager, but boy, I can't imagine growing up any other way, now. My parents usually had no idea where I was, all day. That just doesn't happen any more.