Reading habits

Why a good old-fashioned book is better for your mental health.

When book sales spiked in 2020 and 2021, publishers believed one reason for the increase was that more people had turned to reading during the pandemic, and they were hopeful that some of those people would continue to read when things returned to normal. However, a new report from the National Endowment for the Arts seems to dash those hopes.

The National Literacy TrustUK-based organisation which has campaigned since 1993 to improve literacy standards across all age groups. Excellent research information and details of the many initiatives the charity is currently involved in. www.literacytrust.org.uk. It also has a useful page of news stories on UK literacy, which links to newsletter http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/TheLibrary.aspx is calling for urgent action after its annual survey found children's reading enjoyment at its lowest level in almost two decades, with over half of eight to 18-year-olds stating they do not enjoy reading in their free time.

There's no doubt that Gen Z loves to read.

This generation, defined as people born between 1997 and 2015, is often considered phone-obsessed and addicted to technology. But when it comes to reading, Gen Zers say they prefer to pick up a printed book over an e-book.

If there's one lesson my agent and editors drilled into me about publishing, it's this: know your reader. Luckily, as a doctor of audiences at the University of Bristol, I've been able to think about this a lot!

So what does it mean to know your reader?