The Death of Reading
The London Times recently reported that
... a study of the leisure habits of nearly a quarter of a million Americans found that the number who spent time reading on a typical day (including newspapers, magazines and audiobooks) fell by 40 percent between 2003 and 2023.
In Britain, a 2024 survey by the charity the Reading Agency found that more than a third of adults describe themselves as “lapsed readers”—that is, they used to read regularly but no longer do. And the declines in reading are starkest among the young. According to data from the National Literacy Trust, children’s reading rates are now the lowest on record.
As the Times notes, it’s not hard to pinpoint the culprit—it’s smartphones:
Smartphones are designed to be addictive, using an array of content-recommendation algorithms, notifications and endlessly scrolling feeds of distracting content to keep your attention fixed almost permanently on the screen. Phones shatter the concentration required for deep reading.
But we’re not even reading on our phones. We’re watching short-form videos. As the Times goes on to observe, “We are moving from a literate culture based on the written word to a visual one dominated by moving images.”
This matters.
According to the researchers from University College London and the University of Florida, who examined the data from the American Time Use Study:
Extensive research has explored the benefits of reading, from direct gains in comprehension skills, vocabulary, logical reasoning, imagination, emotional intelligence and empathy, to links with academic achievement, financially rewarding employment, career growth and involvement in civic life. Reading may also promote health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, supporting better sleep and slowing cognitive decline in older adults, as well as increasing longevity.
No wonder that in 1170, a monk in Normandy penned these words: “A monastery without a library [sine armario] is like a castle without an armory [sine armamentario]. Our library is our armory.” This was certainly a conviction shared by the apostle Paul, who even from his prison cell in Rome implored Timothy to be sure to bring him his books (II Timothy 4:13).
I love to read. As a young boy, I can remember devouring Ellery Queen mysteries on long vacation drives; taking a hot bath and reading "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder; curling up in the bay window of a local library as cascades of rain dripped down the glass with a harrowing tale of Blackbeard the Pirate. I still have the copy of Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," worn from countless readings, given to me on my 12th birthday by my grandmother. To this moment, the perfect day is one with a sky full of dark and heavy clouds, promising a furious storm or inches of snow, with a fire in the fireplace and a book waiting to be devoured by my side.
But what if you have fallen out of this love or, more likely, fallen out of the practice of reading? In a recent article on the importance of reading in the Washington Post, a collection of helpful tips was offered:
- Start slow. Start with 15 minutes, and then work up to 30 minutes, then 45.
- Cultivate a habit. Consistency is key.
- Dive into the vast diversity of reading. Different forms of reading – short stories, graphic novels and fan fiction, for example – also count.
- Audiobooks can be beneficial. Yes, they count as reading.
- Remember that reading should be enjoyable. Lean into what you enjoy.
- Make it social. Book clubs are excellent and flourishing. It’s nice to have an accountability partner and others with whom to share perspectives.
- Read unselfconsciously. Reading is for enjoyment. Don’t be embarrassed by reading what you like to read.
But here’s what’s most important:
Read.
Sources
James Marriott, “The Death of Reading Puts the World in a Perilous Place,” The Times, August 14, 2026, read online.
Jessica K. Bone, Feifei Bu, Jill K. Sonke and Daisy Fancourt, “The Decline in Reading for Pleasure Over 20 Years of the American Time Use Survey,” iScience, September 19, 2025, read online.
Maggie Astor, “Fewer People Are Reading for Fun, Study Finds,” The New York Times, August 20, 2025, read online.
The “monk in Normandy” as cited by Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers: A History of Man’s Search to Know His World and Himself.
Richard Sima, “Books are good for your brain. But fiction has a surprising added benefit.” The Washington Post, August 18, 2026, read online.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Beli_photos
James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.
Originally published August 31, 2026.
