Book Riot - The Podcast Episode: 5 Fascinating Stats About Modern Reading Habits, with Laura McGrath
Release Date: March 26, 2025

Guest Introduction: Laura McGrath

In this episode, Book Riot welcomes Laura McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University in Philadelphia. Laura specializes in contemporary American literature with a focus on the American publishing industry. She combines traditional literary analysis with digital humanities, utilizing big data to explore large-scale trends in book publishing. Laura is currently authoring a book on literary agents, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

"I study contemporary American literature by looking at big data... I'm writing a book about literary agents."
[01:21] Laura McGrath

1. Decline in Pleasure Reading

Rebecca opens the discussion by presenting a striking statistic from the American Time Use Survey and Public Participation in the Arts Survey (2023): only 16% of Americans over the age of 16 reported reading anything for personal interest on any given day. This figure excludes reading for work or school purposes.

"In 2023, only 16% of people in the United States over the age of 16 reported reading anything for personal interest yesterday."
[07:16] Rebecca Shinsky

Jeff expresses skepticism about this number, suggesting it might be inflated due to online reading habits.

"One out of seven ish, right?"
[09:01] Jeff O'Neill

Rebecca counters by highlighting the methodological nuances and suggests that the 16% likely includes various forms of reading beyond traditional book reading, such as magazines and ebooks. However, both hosts agree that this represents a significant decline in pleasure reading over the past two decades.

"The odds of reading yesterday were 46% lower in 2023 than they were in 2003."
[09:11] Rebecca Shinsky

2. Library Usage Among Younger Generations

Laura introduces another compelling statistic from an updated study by Kathy Inman Barons and Rachel Norda at Portland State University: 54% of Gen Z and millennials have visited a public library within the past 12 months. This is notably higher than any other age demographic.

"54% of Gen Z and millennials have visited a public library within the past 12 months."
[33:47] Rebecca Shinsky

Jeff acknowledges the importance of libraries, emphasizing their role beyond just lending books, such as providing Wi-Fi access and various community services.

"The library has become a sort of junk drawer of social services in a way that's super helpful."
[34:56] Jeff O'Neill

Laura adds that public libraries serve as essential information infrastructures, especially for younger generations, underscoring the need to defend and preserve them.

"We are talking about potentially disenfranchising and destroying information infrastructure for younger readers."
[34:19] Rebecca Shinsky

3. Reading in AP English Classes and Diversity Concerns

Laura shifts focus to the role of AP English classrooms in shaping reading habits. She cites a study by David Bamman and Jennifer Eberhardt examining the diversity of books included in AP English curricula from 1999 to 2021. The study reveals that 70% of these books feature white main characters, showing little change despite socio-cultural movements like Black Lives Matter.

"Overwhelmingly, these books feature white main characters... 70% of these books... are predominantly white."
[40:43] Rebecca Shinsky

Jeff reflects on the lag between cultural shifts and academic curricula, suggesting that while pop media may become more diverse, educational institutions take longer to reflect these changes.

"Academia tends to lead the way a little bit on this."
[43:52] Jeff O'Neill

Rebecca highlights the persistence of racial homogeneity in AP literature, pointing out that despite efforts in higher education to diversify, high school curricula remain predominantly white-centric.

"Books that are written by women are about 37% less likely to be reviewed than books written by men."
[55:30] Rebecca Shinsky

4. Gender Disparities in Book Reviews

A pivotal part of the discussion revolves around the gender disparities in professional book reviews. Laura references a 2023 study investigating the likelihood of books by women receiving critical attention compared to those by men. The findings indicate that books written by women are 37% less likely to be reviewed than their male counterparts.

"Books that are written by women are about 37% less likely to be reviewed than books written by men."
[55:30] Rebecca Shinsky

Jeff speculates that reviewing genres traditionally dominated by men, such as nonfiction, may contribute to this disparity.

"Books written in frequently reviewed genres are paying a penalty paid by women who write in these genres."
[55:03] Rebecca Shinsky

Rebecca emphasizes that this is not a reflection of the quality or quantity of books by women but rather a systemic bias in the reviewing process.

"This is a demand reviewer effect... This research is related to the book 'Inside the Reviewer's Circle' by Felipa Chong."
[57:18] Rebecca Shinsky

5. The Robustness of Romance Reading Communities

The conversation shifts to romance genres, where Laura notes a stark contrast between professional reviews and reader engagement. While only 2% of professionally reviewed books fall within romance genres, Goodreads data reveals that romance is the most frequently read and shelved genre among active users.

"Romance is as large of a category, as actively engaged as the idea of all fiction. There is no genre that is more frequently shelved among active users than romance."
[61:10] Rebecca Shinsky

Jeff attributes this to the active online communities and the structured discourse around romance tropes, which enhances reader engagement despite the lack of professional reviews.

"The mapping and taxonomic aspect of romance was built into the infrastructure and the architecture of the Frankfurt Book Fair."
[68:59] Jeff O'Neill

Laura observes that romance readers have created their own robust discourse and community spaces online, counteracting the neglect from traditional literary outlets.

"Romance readers have dominated the space... They were so hungry for it because they had just never had that experience reflected in book-related media before."
[63:01] Laura McGrath

6. Implications and Future Directions

The episode concludes with a reflection on the disparities between professional reviews and reader communities. Laura and Rebecca discuss the potential for academic studies to explore the taxonomy and community-building within genres like romance, which thrive outside traditional critical frameworks.

"It is its own genre system that is more diffuse and more diverse than the way we’re thinking about fiction generally."
[62:38] Rebecca Shinsky

Jeff underscores the importance of understanding these dynamics to bridge the gap between mainstream literary criticism and vibrant reader-led communities.

"It's a fascinating case study in what can happen if something’s left to develop a discourse of its own."
[69:07] Jeff O'Neill

Key Takeaways

1. Decline in Pleasure Reading: Only 16% of Americans engage in pleasure reading daily, reflecting a significant societal shift in reading habits.
2. Library Engagement: Over half of Gen Z and millennials visit public libraries annually, highlighting the continued relevance of these institutions.
3. Diversity in Education: AP English curricula remain predominantly white-centric, with minimal progress in diversifying main characters and authors.
4. Gender Bias in Reviews: Women authors face a 37% lower likelihood of receiving professional book reviews compared to men, indicating systemic biases in literary criticism.
5. Strength of Romance Communities: Despite minimal professional recognition, romance genres boast robust and diverse reader communities, driven by active online engagement and trope-based discourse.
6. Bridging Gaps: There is a crucial need for academic and industry stakeholders to address disparities in literary representation and critical attention to foster a more inclusive reading culture.

Notable Quotes

• "I'm writing a book about literary agents."
  [01:21] Laura McGrath

• "The odds of reading anything for fun yesterday... was significantly lower in 2023 than they were in 2003."
  [09:11] Rebecca Shinsky

• "Books that are written by women are about 37% less likely to be reviewed than books written by men."
  [55:30] Rebecca Shinsky

• "Romance is its own genre system that is more diffuse and more diverse than the way we’re thinking about fiction generally."
  [62:38] Rebecca Shinsky

Further Resources

• Laura McGrath's Work:

  • Substack: larabmcgrath.substack.com
  • Upcoming Book: Middlemen, Literary Agents and the Making of Contemporary American Literature (Spring Release)

• Recommended Reading:

  • Inside the Reviewer's Circle by Felipa Chong
  • Love in the Time of Self Publishing by Christine Larson

Stay tuned for future episodes as Book Riot continues to explore the evolving landscape of books and reading habits with insightful guests and compelling discussions.