Bells have been tolling for the act of reading, well, for decades. I recently read an article by a prominent figure in literary circles who is loudly ringing the death knell.
True - newspapers are folding. Not as many people reading the print news. Why should we when we get up to the nanosecond, all the news we need and then some on the Internet?
Second, not as many people buying physical books. Apparently. I know in the book blogosphere we love our books, we love them free, we love them used, we loved them borrowed, and if we can't get them for free, we go out and buy them. Because we have to have them. Now.
But what about outside of our realm?
We are reading less print newspapers and less physical books.
I think we are reading way, way more than before.
The wealth of blogs and sites I've found and now follow is astounding. And because most of them are book blogs, I am compelled to buy more books than I did before (thereby helping the publishing industry, incidentally).
The same technology that's bringing about the decline in publishing in general is making readers out of many people. People who might not be inclined to read a book constantly read Tweets, Facebook comments, blog posts, text messages, etc. And write more as well, in those same media.
I believe we are not reading less; we are just reading differently.
Tweets and the like are making me, a voracious reader, less inclined to read lengthy essays on my computer screen. The article I reference above (read online), I found too verbose because I'm used to the conciseness of most online articles. 1000 words or less, 140 characters max guidelines are giving us ADD.
Oddly enough, though, I can still sit down and read a 700-page book. Go figure.
What do you think? Are people in general/you in particular reading less?
I completely agree with you. I think we are actually reading more and differently. I think people's attention spans are minimizing because of the face-paced information that is streamed over the internet. And with the invention of smart phones and the revolution of the iPhone news bits are sent right to your palm.
ReplyDeleteThe decline of the newspaper is based on the fact that no one trust them anymore...70% of people believe their newspapers are biased and report only their opinions....thanks for the article.
Well let me think about this. My husband does not read books. He just doesn't (I don't know how I could have married such a man...but alas I did).
ReplyDeleteYet, he read PLENTY of articles online and such. His google reader is FULL of daily news articles from around the world. I think the internet makes us more inclines to read.
I am reading more than ever. Books, internet, whatever. You name it and I'm reading it.
I believe we are reading more, yet it is less traceable because of the internet. Great topic!
Rachel-
ReplyDeleteThe convenience and speed of electronic media is definitely key in this "revolution."
Mary-
Thank you! That's funny about your husband - but at least he's reading right? Just not books. There is so much out there to read and take in; I wish I had more time.