US Reading Habits Show Nuanced Trends Amidst Resurgence of Gen Z Book Clubs
Recent discussions about a "reading crisis" in the United States are being met with a more nuanced perspective, as evidence suggests a resurgence of book clubs, particularly among "Generation Z." While data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) indicates a decline in reading for fun among 13-year-olds (from 35% in 1984 to 14% in 2025) and 9-year-olds (from 53% to 37%), and the American Time Use Survey shows a drop in adults reading for personal interest (from 26% in 2003 to 16% in 2023), these statistics may not tell the whole story. The decline in reading appears to be more pronounced among casual readers who may have shifted to other media like TikTok or podcasts for lighter content. Interestingly, among those who do read, the mean reading time has increased from approximately 80 minutes to nearly 100 minutes daily between 2003 and 2023. Furthermore, while the share of adults with "below basic" reading skills has risen, the percentage of high-competency readers (Level 3 and above) h... 
