The vast majority of Americans continue to be enamored with print and have resisted the sirens call of e-books. Pew Research has just reported that 65% of US residents have read a print book in the last year, more than double the amount of people who have read an e-book (28%) or listened to an audiobook (14%).
The Pew Survey has also stated that 73% of Americans have read a print book in the last 12 months, a figure that has remained consistent since 2012. But nearly 40% of Americans read print books exclusively, compared to just 6% of Americans who read e-books.
What is quite surprising about this new data is that e-book lovers are not using e-readers such as the Kindle or Nook, opting instead for multipurpose devices, like tablets and smartphones.
Key Findings from the Survey
College graduates – Compared with those who have not attended college, college graduates are more likely to read books in general, more likely to read print books, and more likely to consume digital-book content. The typical (median) college graduate has read seven books in the last year.
Young adults – 80% of 18- to 29-year-olds have read a book in the last year, compared with 67% of those 65 and older. These young adults are more likely than their elders to read books in various digital formats, but are also more likely to read print books as well: 72% have read a print book in the last year, compared with 61% of seniors.1
Women – Women are more likely than men to read books in general and also more likely to read print books. However, men and women are equally likely to read digital-format books such as e-books and audio books.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
