In my senior year of high school, I took AP U.S. Government and Politics. In middle school, I went through a big government phase and wanted to be a politician, so this class was my way of reconnecting with my roots.
But, much to my chagrin, the class was not my favorite. Most people didn’t care about the class and took it just to check a box, which upset the politicophile in me. To my surprise, whenever we would popcorn read whatever article my teacher gave us for that day, people would stumble over words or sound out simpler words, since it seemed like they had never opened the textbook. That was the first time I thought: “You people can’t read!”
I am not talking about people who actually have difficulty reading. I’m talking about people who spend the majority of their free time letting content pass them by, or those who say “Wow, I can’t believe you’re actually doing that” whenever I mention I actually read a book for school.
There is a real literacy crisis in America now, affecting people of all ages. In the United States, only 31% of students meet or exceed reading standards, according to Illinois Policy, meaning that most are not even proficient at reading at their grade level.
There are the obvious factors of COVID-19 and increased phone usage that cause kids to be stuck in their homes. Especially due to COVID-19, children were separated from in-person instruction and now those effects are obvious, as some people were not able to learn the fundamentals of communication. On top of that, I’ve personally noticed that online, a lot of parents, instead of engaging with their kids intellectually, throw an iPad in front of them. Some of these younger people become so overstimulated (from so-called “brainrot” and other internet content, for example) that they never really dedicate the time and energy to learn how to read, and if they do, their attention span won’t let them focus on a book for too long.
Socioeconomic factors and racial inequalities contribute to these statistics. In fact, 12.5% of people of color live in poverty, compared to only 3.6% of white people (National Equity Atlas). As a result, 52% of Black children and 45% of Hispanic children are below basic reading levels, according to research from Regis College. For students, there are definitely issues of decreased engagement with reading, but the inequitable access to education is also a strong contributor to the situation.
However, this problem does not just affect children. A staggering 21% of American adults are functionally illiterate (USA Reads). This statistic does not mean that they are incapable of reading but rather that their reading skills are very basic, and they struggle with everyday reading. This fact, I believe, is due in part not only to our increased phone usage, but also to reading’s decreased importance in our everyday lives.
I recently saw a TikTok screenslide that said, “My top 7 forms of media”, and unsurprisingly number 7 was literature. The reason they gave: “A bit outdated and not a big fan but they own much knowledge.” Although this post is getting a lot of hate, it represents a sentiment that more and more people are starting to hold: that reading literature doesn’t matter.
Right now, we have endless amounts of media at our fingertips: we can immediately access any movie, TV show, Instagram post or TikTok that exists. The act of reading does not coincide with our new culture of instant gratification from the content we consume, but the slow satisfaction is what makes it rewarding. Taking your time and becoming immersed in a story, in the long run, will be far more gratifying than fifty 30 second videos.
I am not a movie hater. I’m an RTVF major, so I love to watch movies and TV shows. However, people need a mixture of media to consume.
Reading, more than practically any other hobby, benefits you in so many ways. Reading makes you smarter. Reading helps you understand the world around you. Reading teaches you about foreign perspectives. And at the risk of sounding preachy, reading has even been shown to expand your vocabulary, to improve your memory and to just be a fun activity, at least according to UCSB. Reading is one of the single most accessible ways to entertain your brain and make it smarter at the same time. You develop critical thinking and observation skills, which can be translated to everyday life and beyond the pages.
The main barriers I see people having is that they can’t find anything good to read and that it’s too expensive. Unfortunately, figuring out preferences will be a bit of a learning curve because of the diversity of literature available. Get a recommendation from a friend or do research on which genres you already enjoy to get started because there are so many wonderful books out there (and honestly, I wouldn’t trust Booktok, which is a popular place for book recommendations on TIkTok, as most of the books on there are just okay, in my opinion). If you’re excited about a movie based on a book coming out, crack that book open to develop a deeper understanding of the material before you watch. I’ve even seen people love a movie so much that it encourages them to read the book afterwards, and that is amazing too.
If that is still too intimidating, just start with the news or contemporary short stories. And get a library card! Libraries carry hundreds and hundreds of free books that are there for your reading, and they’re all free. Buying books can add up quickly, but reading can be a completely free hobby if you utilize your resources. They are also a wonderful public amenity that can help people from lower socioeconomic families retain access to public education and stay consistent with their reading practices. Many libraries are also on online platforms, like Libby, which allows you to access even more books and magazines, so there’s a lot of material out there to get you started.
If it’s hard to find the time during the school year, wait until summer. Start a book club with your friends to spend time with them and talk about the new book you all read. Northwestern students have free access to both The New York Times and Washington Post, read one article a day. Even a little bit is better than nothing. The time will pass anyway, so why not enjoy it with a good book?
