In post-literate America, some can’t imagine life without reading
My Jan. 7 column about my own reading of 2025 included the sobering statistic that pleasure reading — news included — is down by 40% since 2003. And that a 2022 survey showed only 38% of Americans had read a book, or even a short story, in the previous year.
The majority of Americans don’t read even one book a year? As a story in The Atlantic that I quoted put it, readers are an endangered species, “like honeybees and red wolves.”
Some of you were inspired to write. Emails, not books.
Karen Cramer, Riverside: “Thank you for your column on reading and its many benefits! As a retired librarian and lifelong book and print lover I am one of those honeybees/red wolves.”
Linda Egle, Beaumont: “I usually read two or three books a week… My youngest grandkids, ages 9 and 11, also come over each week and always bring books to read.”
Winona Howe of Riverside: “I can’t imagine my life without books. Probably not surprising that I ended up teaching lit.”
Edith Reed, Hemet: “Some days I read for just a few minutes and some days for hours. I keep a Kindle between the pillows on our bed, and always read before I go to sleep. When I was growing up I was thrilled when I learned to read the Burma Shave signs.”
Julia Parra, Upland: “We emphasized the importance of reading to and with our son. Well, he grew up to be a voracious reader, and now has a new daughter, in whom he and his wife Molly are beginning to instill the love of reading. A full circle moment!”
Sue Payne, San Bernardino: “Loved today’s column. My reading list this year spanned three sheets, the most since I started listing years ago. Now if I can tear myself away from reading the paper, I’ll go count ’em up.”
Janet Cerswell, Alta Loma: “I have never kept track of how many books I read in a year, but one of my 2026 resolutions is to start. I have finished one so far (as of Jan. 7), so I probably need to pick up the pace.”
Susan Winderman, Claremont: “I read with enjoyment your column about reading in the print edition of Wednesday’s Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.”
Peter Briscoe, Riverside: “The truth you spoke is what I have been saying in my capacity as a librarian for 20 years. I just hope your column wakes more people up. Neuroscientist Michel Desmurget believes that mankind may be ‘de-evolving.’ So do I.”
A slightly different perspective arrived from a retired journalist friend who is, among other things, the author of the “Secret Stairs” guidebook.
Charles Fleming, Silver Lake: “Are there book-haters, or ones who’ll come out from behind their phones and admit it? I am guilty. I used to always be reading two books at a time. Now I spend weeks finishing one, and unless I am on vacation and out of the house (and the city) I seldom read for more than a few minutes at a time.”
Redeeming himself, Charles says of one book I touted, Carey McWilliams’ “Southern California: An Island on the Land”: “It’s the best thing I’ve ever read about the actual history of Southern California, right up there with (Mike Davis‘) ‘City Of Quartz.’”
Mike F. O’Brien, Claremont: “I believe the frequency of reading has a direct effect on what kind of society we are to be. Not going so well these days!”
But he’s not the bookish sort either. Mike explains: “My wife read a book a week last year, so, 52. I read 365 Daily Bulletins, 12 Sports Illustrated and 26 Time magazines!”
That’s still unassigned reading. It counts.
Lavinia Brass, Banning: “I read for pleasure and to keep up with what is happening in the world. I learn something every day from reading. Were I not a reader, I would have missed your interesting story. Keep up the good work.”
More Lou
Reader Phil Paleg presented your St. Louis Cardinals-rootin’ columnist with a baseball signed by Hall of Fame player Lou Brock, as noted here Jan. 9. Brock happened to be one of my childhood favorites. His name was recognizable to many of you — for good or ill.
Dodgers fan Richard Armour of Rancho Cucamonga praised Brock’s “absolute majesty,” while saying he’d both enjoyed and anguished over the base stealer’s talents.
“We all knew, if he walked or had a single with no one on base, it was like he hit a double,” Armour admits. “Just wait a minute or two and he would be standing on second base with a dirty uniform!”
brIEfly
It isn’t clear specifically why the arrest of a man on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List was announced by FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials at Ontario International Airport. Maybe as an international inside joke? The onetime Olympic snowboarder, Ryan Wedding, is a Canadian born in Thunder Bay, Ontario. O Canada!
David Allen writes Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, eh? Email dallen@scng.com, phone 909-483-9339, and follow davidallencolumnist on Facebook or Instagram, @davidallen909 on X or @davidallen909.bsky.social on Bluesky.