Book Riot - The Podcast: Americans Want To Read More Books. Or Do They? Release Date: April 14, 2025

In this insightful episode of Book Riot - The Podcast, hosts Jeff O'Neill and Rebecca Schinsky delve deep into the evolving landscape of American reading habits, industry trends, and the challenges facing the publishing world. Titled "Americans Want To Read More Books. Or Do They?", the episode unpacks intriguing data from an Ipsos poll, discusses a breakout success in the YA Romantasy genre, and examines significant shifts within key publishing institutions like Publishers Weekly.

1. The Ipsos Poll: Aspirations vs. Reality in American Reading

At the heart of this episode is a compelling discussion about an Ipsos poll revealing that "most Americans want to read more and just don't." Jeff and Rebecca analyze the poll's findings, highlighting a disconnect between the cultural aspiration to read and the actual reading habits of Americans.

Key Points:

• Aspirational Reading: The poll indicates a strong desire among Americans to read more, with 98% wanting their children to develop a love for reading and 63% striving to become better readers ([15:27]).

• Discrepancies in Responses: A striking 41% of respondents do not consider listening to audiobooks as a form of reading, underscoring a traditional view of reading ([15:27]).

• Leisure Time and Priorities: The conversation probes into why, despite aspirations, reading remains low on many people's priority lists. Jeff suggests, “We want to be a reading nation, but only 51% have read a book in the past month, compared to 80% engaging with streaming services or social media ([19:13]).

• Genre Popularity: Thriller, crime, and mystery dominate at 37%, followed by historical nonfiction at 24%, while young adult and romance genres lag behind, raising questions about cultural visibility and media coverage ([22:11]).

Notable Quote: Rebecca reflects, “Reading is much more popular in theory than in practice” ([26:16]).

2. Breaking Ground in YA Romantasy: Lauren Roberts' "Fearless"

The hosts spotlight the phenomenal success of "Fearless" by Lauren Roberts, the third installment in the Powerless series, which sold 266,000 units globally on its first day—a record for Simon & Schuster's YA books ([05:32]).

Key Points:

• Market Segmentation: Jeff and Rebecca grapple with understanding why such a high-selling book in a niche genre like Romantasy hasn’t permeated mainstream literary conversations.

• Cultural Impact: They ponder whether genres like Romantasy can achieve the cultural penetration of phenomena like "Twilight" or "50 Shades of Gray", noting that unlike these titles, Romantasy hasn't been widely referenced in mainstream media or popular culture ([08:13]-[10:33]).

Notable Quote: Jeff muses, “I think we could be the people” to represent diverse reader interests that might not align with mainstream media coverage ([05:05]).

3. Publishers Weekly Introduces a $25 Review Submission Fee

A significant part of the episode examines Publishers Weekly's decision to charge a $25 fee for book review submissions, a move met with mixed reactions within the publishing community ([27:10]).

Key Points:

• Rationale Behind the Fee: Rebecca supports the decision, explaining that it helps manage the overwhelming number of submissions and ensures serious authors are submitting their work. “Publishers Weekly is trying to subsidize their review process... to keep the business going” ([28:58]-[29:00]).

• Impact on Authors and Publishers: The hosts discuss how this fee might discourage low-quality or unsolicited submissions, potentially elevating the review quality. However, concerns are raised about smaller or self-published authors who may find the barrier prohibitive.

• Comparison to Other Media: Jeff draws parallels to other industries, suggesting that just as media institutions charge for certain services, Publishers Weekly’s fee is a reasonable business decision ([30:12]-[33:32]).

Notable Quote: Rebecca counters criticisms by stating, “Publishers Weekly exists to be like a mouthpiece into the publishing industry... it’s a chance for visibility in front of the kinds of people who make decisions about which books are on bookstore shelves” ([33:24]-[34:00]).

4. Demographics in Publishing: The Whiteness and Gender Gap

Referencing Laura McGrath’s analysis on her Substack, Text Crunch, the podcast delves into the demographic makeup of the publishing industry, questioning how "white" it truly is relative to various benchmarks ([38:08]-[43:55]).

Key Points:

• Relative Whiteness: Publishing is 72.5% white compared to 58.4% of the general U.S. population, indicating a significant overrepresentation ([41:47]-[42:21]).

• Gender Representation: While publishing may be more female than the general population, there’s a pronounced gender disparity at higher organizational levels, with leadership roles skewing male ([43:20]-[43:55]).

• Comparative Analysis: The discussion includes comparisons with other industries, emphasizing the need for nuanced understanding rather than blanket statements about diversity ([41:47]-[43:55]).

Notable Quote: Rebecca articulates, “Publishing is significantly whiter than the US population. How white is it and relative to what?” ([38:08]).

5. Book Recommendations: Front List Foyer

Interspersed with their analysis, Jeff and Rebecca share personal book recommendations, enhancing the episode’s relatability and practical value.

Featured Books:

• "Care and Keeping of a Pet Black Hole" by Michelle Cuevas: A middle-grade novel that beautifully explores grief and the imaginative adventures of a young girl dealing with her father's passing through her interaction with a mysterious black hole ([45:05]-[47:53]).

  Notable Quote: Rebecca praises the book, stating, “Books are so much better for kids at doing this big emotional work” ([47:39]).

• "Who Is Government?" edited by Michael Lewis: A collection that highlights the unsung heroes within the government, showcasing the intricate and impactful work of lifetime civil servants ([48:33]-[51:06]).

• "Exit 0" by Marie Helene Bertino: An upcoming release discussed with anticipation, where Jeff shares his personal journey of reading her backlist and preparing for an in-depth interview ([54:11]-[57:07]).

Humorous Moment: Rebecca delivers a witty joke inspired by "Care and Keeping of a Pet Black Hole": “Have you heard the one about the new anti-gravity book? It’s impossible to put down.”

6. Closing Thoughts and Industry Reflections

Towards the episode’s conclusion, the hosts reflect on the broader implications of their discussions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and supporting diverse voices and genres within the literary world.

Key Insights:

• Economic Realities of Publishing: The fee introduced by Publishers Weekly is seen as a necessary adaptation to sustain quality in book reviews, despite initial resistance from authors ([33:24]-[36:35]).

• Cultural Segmentation: The success of niche genres like Romantasy underscores the fragmented yet vibrant nature of modern readership, where diverse tastes coexist but may lack unified visibility ([05:32]-[10:33]).

• Diversity and Representation: Grounded in data, the conversation underscores the ongoing need for strategic diversity initiatives within publishing, aiming for representation that mirrors societal demographics ([38:08]-[43:55]).

Notable Quote: Jeff encapsulates the essence of evolving reading habits: “Reading is much more popular in theory than in practice” ([26:16]).

Conclusion:

This episode of Book Riot - The Podcast offers a comprehensive examination of the current reading landscape in America, highlighting the aspirations, challenges, and evolving dynamics within the publishing industry. Through thoughtful analysis and engaging dialogue, Jeff and Rebecca provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of what it means to be a reading nation in today's fast-paced, media-saturated world.

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