Fewer people are reading for fun — but what about us?

Cameron CapelloAugust 15, 2025

The New York Times recently shared a study that’s been sitting with me: fewer Americans are reading for pleasure than ever before. Back in 2004, 28 percent of people reported reading for fun on any given day. In 2023, that number dropped to just 16 percent (New York Times). That’s not only books, but also e-books, magazines, and even audiobooks (which do count as reading!)The researchers pointed to all the usual suspects — social media, longer workdays, the constant buzz of technology. But what struck me most was the reminder of why reading matters in the first place. One of the study’s co-authors, Daisy Fancourt, put it beautifully: “The empathy that we feel for [characters] is actually real, and these connections with characters can be ways that we can feel less alone, that we can feel socially and emotionally validated.”And isn’t that the magic of it? Stories can crack us open in ways that little else does. They make us feel seen, understood, connected — even if it’s just for a few chapters before bed. I think about the books that have held my hand through heartbreak, or the ones that made me laugh out loud on a crowded airplane, or the ones that helped me understand myself better without ever saying my name. Reading isn’t just “fun.” It’s community, therapy, travel, and sometimes escape.At the same time, the study pointed out something sobering: people with higher incomes and education are still reading, while disadvantaged groups — the very people who could benefit the most from these quiet joys — are reading less. That gap is widening, and it makes me wonder how we can keep stories accessible and alive for everyone. Because reading is more than a pastime, it’s a resource for our health and well-being.So I’d love to hear from you, Fable community.Have you noticed your own reading habits shift over the years?What helps you carve out space for a book when the world feels so loud and urgent?And what’s the last story that reminded you why you fell in love with reading in the first place?I’ll be in the comments with my coffee and current read, eager to swap notes. Because if this study tells us anything, it’s that the act of reading might be personal, but the joy of it? That’s something we share.

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Fewer people are reading for fun — but what about us?

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