[LMB] Books per year

[Nora Bombay]

>The Sundance Kid wrote

>   I can't believe it's accurate, or it doesn't take college books into 
> account. Because that accounts for 4-15 books a year, per student. Then 
> high schools, where you're required to buy your books (I usually averaged 
> 6-20 a year, there). Then libraries, eBooks (prolly not included, but 
> 2003 might not have made a difference). And, the comment about it 
> probably being Nothing Read vs. Lots would have a lot of merit. And a lot 
> of corporate passing-books-around, lending things... I just can't believe 
> 2 a year. I'd... go crazy :) I'm slow if I'm on 3 a week.

It's accurate- figure 300 million Americans. Toss out any one under the age 
of 3- they may be read to, but they can't read yet. Think of the gigantic 
number of people who just don't read. And then consider this:

I, a hardcore reader and bibliophile have read exactly Four books from 
start to finish this year.

Four.

I've read a lot. But a huge percentage of my reading has been transferred 
to the computer screen. Livejournal. Fanfic. The many wonderful and varied 
things to be found on the internet. The joke is that if I had some of these 
books in electronic form, I would have finished them months ago.

Four books used to be a weekend.

I've been hauling the Serpent Bride, a book I enjoy about for a month. And 
just haven't gotten around to sitting down and reading it.


But I think all of the people who read millions of books a year average out 
the number who choose not to, who cannot, and simply hate to read.

Heck, check out the workplace and Harry Potter. I keep hearing from people 
who are thinking of reading them, but they are long. And it's this special 
thing, that they might actually read the book....

Nora Bombay, delurking for a bit.