By Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
Reading books is a habit. And the environment plays a huge part. There have been a number of polls and researches conducted in India on the reading habits of people. The results of these studies have shown that reading habits in India vary widely by region, age group, and socioeconomic status.
In general, people in India read less than people in other developed countries. I know for a fact. For, one finds it difficult to get books sold. And read ?That is another ball game altogether.
In today’s world, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to focus on anything for an extended period of time. This is due in part to the rise of social media, which bombards users with a constant stream of information and updates. As a result, people’s attention spans have become shorter and shorter.
A study by Microsoft found that the average attention span of a human being has decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2015. This is shorter than the attention span of a goldfish, which is 9 seconds.It has been exacerbated by invasion of AI. And in 2022, it was just a fraction of what it was in 2015.
There are a number of reasons for this decline in attention spans. One reason is the rise of social media. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are designed to be addictive. They use a variety of techniques, such as notifications, push alerts, and endless scrolling, to keep users engaged.Ask Tristan Harris and watch ‘Social Dilemma’ on Netflix, if you have the attention span.
Another reason for the decline in attention spans is the increasing amount of information that is available to us. In the past, people had to rely on books, newspapers, and magazines for information. However, today, we have access to an endless amount of information online. This can be overwhelming and can make it difficult to focus on any one thing.And the deleterious consequences include stress and anxiety as Prof. Jonathan Haidt puts it.
A 2017 survey by the National Book Trust of India found that only 11% of Indians read for pleasure at least once a week. This is significantly lower than the average of 58% in developed countries. And subsequent surveys have returned dismal results.
A factor that contributes to the low levels of reading in India is the supposed ‘lack of time’ . Many Indians work long hours and have little free time. They claim to be busy with other activities, such as taking care of their families and/or working on their careers. The National Book Trust of India’s survey found that the number of people who read for pleasure was dwindling despite marginal increases.
Crossing continents, in 2018, Gallup conducted a poll of Americans and found that 57% of adults said they had read a book for pleasure in the past 12 months. This was down from 72% in 1989.In 2019, Pew Research Center conducted a poll of Americans and found that 44% of adults said they had read a book for pleasure in the past year. This was down from 65% in 2011. And in 2022, despite the Pandemic, reading habits plunged to less than 55%.
These polls suggest that book reading habits have declined in recent decades. There are a number of possible reasons for this decline, including the rise of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, which offer a variety of entertainment options that compete with reading.
The decline of public libraries, which have traditionally been a source of books for people who cannot afford to buy them.Despite the decline in book reading, there are still a number of people who enjoy reading for pleasure. These people often find that reading helps them to relax, learn new things, and escape from the stresses of everyday life.
Jokes apart, I, for one, would suggest you make friends with those who read books. Not just reviews. And you, at least read reviews, if you will, for a start.
I start where we must. Your day starts with your waking up. “Make Your Bed” is a brilliant work, which, as a habit, we would do well to practice, even if not read the book and/or even read the review. Shall we?
(Author of multiple books and practicing advocate in the Madras High Court).
