NBC News · updated 2026-07-13

Fewer People Report Reading for Pleasure

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“FEWER PEOPLE REPORT READING FOR PLEASURE”

covered 2026-07-13 ▶ Be on the air with NBC News

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Netanel Colish

Andrew Huberman

Haley Pham

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Polls, predictions & fact-checks we ran live across networks — your take joins the running tally, compared across every network.

Topic poll · all networksIn 1982, what % of U.S. adults read literature for pleasure?

  1. About 37%
  2. About 47%
  3. About 57%
  4. About 70%
Guess, then reveal the answer

About 57%

Reading for pleasure has dropped to its lowest level in 20+ years.

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Time Use Survey, Americans spent an avg. of just 15.6 minutes/day reading in 2022 — down from 23 minutes in 2004. Young adults ages 20–34 read the least of any age group.

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