Ah, books. Remember those things? You know, the ones with paper pages you turn by hand, instead of screens you swipe with your thumb? Once upon a time, curling up with a novel was a cherished pastime, but these days, it feels like more people are scrolling than flipping. If you’ve read this far, congrats: You’ve already beaten the average smartphone-induced attention span.
Let’s address the elephant in the room (or the glowing rectangle in your hand): Americans are reading less, and our beloved phones are largely to blame. But fear not. This isn’t just a lamentation on the death of deep reading. It’s also a call to action—and maybe a little snarky commentary on our collective inability to put down Candy Crush long enough to read the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice.
The Grim Stats: Are We Becoming a Nation of Non-Readers?
Here’s a sobering thought: Nearly half of Americans didn’t finish a single book last year. That’s according to a poll of 1,500 people, which means it wasn’t just your group chat full of people posting memes instead of reading. Gallup chimed in with more bad news: The average American now reads 12.6 books a year—a historic low since they began tracking this back in 1990.
Even worse, it’s not just adults with a Love Island addiction—kids aren’t reading much either. Teachers report that younger students struggle with reading stamina, which is code for “they’re tired after reading two paragraphs.” Meanwhile, college students, who used to devour doorstoppers like Infinite Jest (or at least pretend to), now find reading entire books for class utterly baffling.
The culprit? Smartphones. They’re shiny, addicting, and excellent at bombarding us with notifications about sales on things we don’t need. But they’re also ruining our ability to focus for more than 90 seconds at a time.
Why Reading Still Matters: It’s More Than Just a Hobby
Before you brush this off with “I’ll just listen to an audiobook,” let’s talk about why reading matters. Picking up a book isn’t just a quaint throwback to a pre-digital era; it’s basically a mental gym session. Reading improves vocabulary, sharpens critical thinking, reduces stress, and even helps you sleep better. (Yes, even better than doomscrolling Twitter until your eyes burn.)
Books offer more than just brain-boosting benefits. They provide an escape, a way to see the world through someone else’s eyes, and a much-needed antidote to the doom-and-gloom of the 24-hour news cycle. Bonus: Studies suggest bookworms live longer. So, if immortality is on your bucket list, maybe crack open a novel tonight.
The Smartphone Problem: Why We’re All Distracted Zombies
Let’s not mince words: Smartphones are the villains of this story. They’re dopamine-delivery machines designed to keep you hooked on social media, games, and that weird app you downloaded once but can’t seem to delete.
The endless cycle of scrolling, liking, and swiping isn’t just eating into your reading time; it’s rewiring your brain. Even the mere presence of a smartphone can derail your focus. And let’s not even talk about the multitasking myth—trying to read Anna Karenina while texting your group chat is a one-way ticket to understanding neither.
But hey, we’re not here just to shame you into feeling bad about your screen time. We’ve got solutions, too.
7 Tips to Get Back to Books (Without Deleting TikTok)
Ready to turn things around? Here’s how to rebuild your reading habit—no judgment if you can only manage a few pages at first.
1. Find Your Reading Soulmate
Think you hate reading? Wrong. You just haven’t met the right book. Maybe it’s a crime thriller, a sappy romance, or a graphic novel about space pirates—whatever floats your literary boat.
Middle school librarian Jen Miller suggests trying a buffet-style approach: Sample books from different genres until you find one that clicks. “Finding the right book can transform a reluctant reader into an avid one,” she says.
2. Ditch the Guilt (and the Book You Hate)
Here’s a revolutionary idea: You don’t have to finish every book you start. If you’re slogging through something boring, give yourself permission to quit.
Jeremy Anderberg, who reviews books on his Substack, offers this formula: “100 minus your age equals the number of pages you should give a book before deciding it’s not for you.” Life’s too short to suffer through bad writing—or worse, mediocre writing.
3. Schedule Your Reading Time
You schedule gym sessions and dentist appointments—why not reading? Block out 10 to 30 minutes a day for uninterrupted reading. Morning, lunch break, before bed—it doesn’t matter when, as long as it happens.
Pro tip: Set a timer. Anderberg suggests starting with 30 minutes of no-phone, no-TV reading time. At first, it’ll feel impossible. Then, it’ll become your favorite part of the day.
4. Always Carry a Book (or E-Reader)
You never know when you’ll have downtime. Waiting for your latte at Starbucks? Read. Stuck in line at the DMV? Read. Avoiding eye contact on public transportation? Read.
The key is to have your book with you at all times, either in physical form or on an e-reader app. You’ll be surprised how much you can read in those sneaky little moments.
5. Make Reading Social
Join a book club, buddy up with a friend, or just rope your partner into reading the same book as you. Sharing your thoughts with others can keep you motivated—and bonus points if there are snacks involved.
“Book clubs are great for accountability,” says literacy consultant Kathryn Starke. Plus, they’re an excuse to gossip about plot twists over wine and cheese.
6. Set Fun (and Realistic) Goals
Goodreads offers a yearly Reading Challenge where you set a target number of books to read. Whether it’s five books or 50, hitting milestones can keep you motivated.
If that’s too much pressure, go smaller. Commit to a chapter a day or a certain number of pages. Success builds momentum, and before you know it, you’re finishing books like it’s 1995.
7. Be a Reading Role Model
Parents, this one’s for you: If you want your kids to read more, show them how it’s done. Put down your phone, pick up a book, and let them see you actually enjoying it.
As Anderberg says, “There’s something powerful about kids seeing adults choose a book over a screen.” Lead by example, and you might just inspire the next generation of book lovers.
The Bottom Line
Reading isn’t dead—it’s just on life support. But with a little effort (and maybe a touch less TikTok), you can rediscover the joy of losing yourself in a good book. So, put down your phone, grab a novel, and get reading. Your brain—and possibly your lifespan—will thank you.
Who knows? Maybe next year, you’ll be part of the 54% who actually finish a book. Just don’t forget to savor the journey—because unlike that endless Instagram scroll, books are worth every second.