IS READING GOING OUT OF STYLE?

I have kept a list of all the movies I've seen and books I've read since 1985. On paper and occasionally I update a list but since the computer keeps changing or the program changes I have had to start over a few times in the 22 years I've been doing it. Yikes, that's a long time! My goal is to read more books than see movies but do I count books on tape/CD (and now ebooks)? Sure, why not! A woman in my book group doesn't even read the book if she can help it; she prefers to listen to it!

A recent study says that people are reading less and less. The most depressing statistic: "Almost half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 never read books for pleasure." (a new report released today by the National Endowment for the Arts, November 19, 2007)

Ian Frazier wrote a hilarious piece for the Nov. 13, 2006 New Yorker titled, "Downpaging". In it he talks about buying books as a terrible addiction that is bankrupting people. Here is a sample from it:

"Few people know that the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States is the ‘Clan of the Cave Bear’ novels. You overspend on one, and, just when you begin to dig yourself out, the next installment comes along."