This explains why we have George W as president

[ikojo]

I received this from an e mail list I am on...

Sad when you think about the ramifications of such a lack of intellectual curiosity.

<http://newpairodimes.blogspot.com/2007/06/u.html> notes these facts:

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.

[RevolutionaryActs]

1. That is so sad.

:cry:

[Kali]

2. wow - that is pretty bad

I know there are people who just aren't readers (maybe an undiagnosed learning disability) but 42 percent of college graduates never read another book? whew

I am voracious and lucky two of three kids turned out to love reading, the husband does the paper, a few mags and a little internet the son that is his clone does about the same. The oldest son is a healthy reader, my niece actually has to be controlled - reading garbage in class instead of paying attention. A problem I can live with!

[fizzgig]

3. i can't imagine never reading again

i would just die

[RevolutionaryActs]

5. Eeek, it would be like Fahrenheit 451

*clutches books*

[fizzgig]

6. i will light them on fire

before they take my books

on clarification: i mean i will light anyone who tries to take my books away on fire, not the books themselves

[RevolutionaryActs]

8. Oh, oh!

I could be one of the walking books... I'll take Lord of the Rings. It's ambitious, I know, but why not go for it? :P

[BarenakedLady]

4. I've lost count

on the number of books I've read just this year.

That is sad. I can say that both my parents were/are big readers. It was instilled at an early age the joy of reading. Both my brother and I are voracious readers. My oldest is well on her way to following my lead.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. i have to say, i don't read a lot of books either

I read, but just not books.

I read magazines, newspapers, stuff on the internet.

I'm not really into fiction, and anything non-fiction I can generally find out about through other sources. I just don't see the need to pick up a book.

[Radio_Lady]

9. Interesting. I preview books and speak with authors. I rarely read any book all the way;

and prefer to skim the surfeit of books sent my way prior to deciding which author to speak with and which to leave to other people to pursue. (I do a one-hour broadcast weekly, usually talking about 30 minutes with an author and then review movies I've seen for the rest of the time. We are part of a book-reading audio service at Oregon Public Broadcasting; you can see the full story on my journal page.)

I don't read fiction and much prefer non-fiction, also I do much better with audio books that I can listen to in my car. I think I'm an "aural" person. I took one paperback on my three week trip to Europe and never cracked it. I've had that book for years, and am now on page 36. It's a non-fiction book about Jack London. I really want to read it, but never do.

I do read a daily newspaper, some magazines, and like you, see a great deal of late breaking news on the internet.

I definitely don't support Bush, of course!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

10. For me, not reading = not breathing

I don't understand people!!

[SKKY]

11. Wow. How sad! That's one of the things I actually like about being deployed...

...Once I get my rythm and sleep down, I'll get through a book every 2-3 days. On one deployment I read EVERYTHING by Hesse, just about everything by Clancy, and a whole crap-load of other stuff I managed to stumble upon. I probably read 80 books.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. Has anyone run this through Snopes?

It's an email, just sayin'

[knitter4democracy]

15. I agree. It can't be right.

More families than that have young children, and more parents than that buy books from Scholastic, I'd bet. Those book fairs and book sales from school?

[graywarrior]

13. Hey, at my job I monitor what people watch on tv. We are in big trouble, people.

Most watch Wheel of Fortune, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Reba, Sanford & Son, Law & Order (every damn one of them and they are shown 24/7) Walker, Texas Ranger. Still Standing (whatever the fuck that is), reruns of Everyone Loves Raymond, the Lifetime channel for 6 straight hours, and Fox News.

[skygazer]

14. What do these people do in the bathroom?

I mean seriously. :wow:

[Lautremont]

16. Ridin' the Porcelain Pony to Boredomtown. (nt)

[Adsos Letter]

17. Seems suspect...but if true, I would find it highly disturbing

As, no doubt, you will all find this picture disturbing :D :hi:




I can understand some people having more interest in reading than others; but not to read regularly at all? :scared:

[Inchworm]

18. I've read 2 "books" in my life

cover to cover.

1984 and Dante's Inferno.

My attention span is too short and I fidget too much to sit and just read. I tried to regain interest recently and bought the first book in the Pratchett: Diskworld(?) series. I think I got a chapter down by the time I realized how much my puppy wanted her belly rubbed.

At the same time I got a Field Guide to North American Birds. I now have a hobby and actually read it daily.

Poetry?!? I can dig it! You read it.. pause, absorb it. Reread it.. pause, take in more. Read it yet again and hopefully say Ahhhh I get it!

:hi:

[hfojvt]

19. it's worse than that though

If you figure that some of the people who ARE reading are reading books by Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Clancy, Sidney Sheldon, etc., etc.

I thought it was sad in my bookstore too, because I had a variety of books, but many people got books that would reinforce what they already believed.

[Yukari Yakumo]

20. "Print is dead," - Dr. Egon Spengler

Though perhaps said about a decade and a half too soon.