Why Do Humans Love Reading So Much?

As readers ourselves, there are a few ways we’re able to identify others like us. For instance, fellow readers often carry an indie bookstore tote bag, other times it’s the mug in their hands giving them away with a cute phrase like “bookish babe” or “she’s reading again? how novel” or, and this one is a dead giveaway, sometimes they’re identified by the book in their hands.

The point is that readers are everywhere. Personally, we think this is a great thing, but it does bring one question to the forefront: why do some people love reading while others hate it? One major factor is the household one is born into and the culture of reading that parents create within it. Let’s talk about it.

Define Reading

Okay, sure, we know that reading is the action or skill of reading written or printed matter silently or aloud, but when it comes to surveys, it’s important to separate whether participants are reading for fun or reading because they have to like for school or work. In 2017, about 53% of American adults read at least one book not for school or work in the last 12 months according to the National Endowment for the Arts.

Just five years earlier, the NEA had been a little more detailed with their survey and found that 23% of American adults were “light” readers who said they finished one to five titles per year, with 10% being moderate readers finishing six to 11 titles, 13% said they were frequent readers finishing 12 – 49 titles, and last but not least 5% were considered avid readers finishing 50+ titles.

As sociologist Wendy Griswold added, “Every society has some group of people that read a lot in their leisure time,” referring to this group as “the reading class.” When Griswold compared the numbers, she found that about 20% of adults belong to the U.S.’s reading class when compared to the rates of serious reading in other similarly wealthy countries.

The Reading Class

While most of us probably want to be considered part of the reading class, some people are simply more likely than others to become members. In fact, as Griswold explains, there is a predictable pattern to be found. First, the more education someone has, the more likely they are to be a reader, and if we’re talking location, urban people tend to read more than rural people.

Bookish babes, this one is for you: because young girls are most likely to start reading earlier than boys, they are also more likely to continue to read more in adulthood. If you’re wondering if race matters when it comes to the reading class, the answer is yes. Data from the NEA indicates that 60% of white American adults reported reading a book in the last year outside of work or school, which was a higher rate than for African Americans (47%), Asians (45%), and Hispanic people (32%).

Introverts and the Presence of Books

Now, just because you possess any number of these characteristics doesn’t guarantee that you are or are not a reader. Why? We’re glad you asked. Your personality also plays a role! Daniel Willingham, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia dropped some truth that a lot of us may already know or have suspected, “introverts seem to be a little bit more likely to do a lot of leisure-time reading.”

Another important factor that researchers have identified is the number of books in one’s childhood home. Children who grow up surrounded by books tend to attain higher levels of education and become better readers than those who don’t. Now, while the mere presence of books is valuable, it’s not necessarily transformative on its own. A vital influence? Yes. And while no one can predict with certainty whether they’re raising avid readers, there are factors that can be controlled.

As Easy as 1, 2, 3

In Willingham’s book Raising Kids Who Read, he highlights three variables that heavily influence whether a person becomes a lifelong reader or not. One, a child needs to be able to smoothly transition from print on the page to words in the mind. Schools will help with this, but parents can also help by reading to and with their kids and letting them sound out words as they go. Two, a wide range of background knowledge of the world will help kids interpret things they come across in print, creating enthusiastic and curious learners.

The final component? Motivation. As a parent or caregiver, the best thing you can do to encourage readers is to have a positive attitude about it yourself. Willingham explains this perfectly by saying that reading should be presented as “chocolate cake” and not “spinach”.

What he means by this is that little eyes are always watching and taking in every last detail down to how we spend our free time. If you like to curl up on the couch with a book in the evening versus doom-scrolling or watching TV, kids are highly likely to take note. Modeling bookish behaviors by curling up with a good book any chance we get? Count us in.

How to Raise Readers

It’s important to note that even if you didn’t grow up an avid reader, you can still raise avid readers. Don’t focus too much on the later-in-life outcomes, but more on the value (and, dare we say, fun) of reading in the moment now. Here are a few ways you can share your love of books and reading with your kids:

• Talk about books during meals or car rides to show kids that books are a compelling topic
• Visit your local library and/or bookstores and take your time. How else are kids going to learn and appreciate how good books smell?
• Give books as birthday and other holiday gifts
• Fill your home with books that you and your family find interesting
• Perhaps most importantly, read to your kiddos and let them read to you