One-third of Americans report reading fewer books than a decade ago

One-third of Americans say they are reading fewer books for personal enjoyment than they did ten years ago, according to a CBS News/YouGov survey conducted June 2-4, 2026. The decline cuts across age and education levels. About half of those reading less cite insufficient free time, while another half point to competing distractions.

alternatives More than one-third of all respondents say their attention spans have worsened over the past decade. More than half of those reading fewer books report spending additional time watching movies and television. More than half also report increased social-media use, a reason cited by nearly two in three adults under 30.

More than one-third of those reading less say they are gaming more. More than half of men under 50 who read less report greater time spent gaming, while the top alternative activity for women under 50 is social media. About one-third of both men and women say they are doing more physical activities instead of reading.

preferences Most readers still prefer printed books over digital formats or audiobooks. One-third of adults who read more than 20 books per year usually read them digitally. Most readers rely on recommendations when choosing books, with friends and family cited most often.

Older readers tend to consult book reviews, while readers under 30 are far more likely to turn to social media and influencers. Fiction is more popular than nonfiction overall. Women show a clear preference for fiction; men are evenly divided between the two categories.

Among fiction readers, the top reasons are entertainment, relaxation and escape, good stories and characters, and using imagination. Mysteries are the most popular fiction genre overall and are favored by women and by those who read the most books per year; men are more likely to choose science fiction and fantasy.