Books. You remember those. Hardbound, printed on paper. A few hundred pages long. They come in the mail from Amazon? Do you still read them? Or is your consumption of text limited to Facebook status updates and text messages? Is our generation programming itself to live on nothing but sound bites or do we still have the ability to turn off the screens (unless it’s a Kindle) and actually concentrate on one subject or story at a time? And if so, what’s the last book you have read?
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Yes, absolutely. I actually look forward to reading print after staring a computer screen all day, it’s a relief from having 18 different programs and tasks opened. It’s de-stressing for me to have only a single focus without interruptions like email, Skype, Twitter or IMs.
It’s difficult to get lost in a thought or idea from 9-5. Reading books or a newspaper after work provides that.
I completely agree with Mark. Books are now, just as they’ve always been (and perhaps more than ever), an escape from the rigors of the everyday grind. Getting some time away from the screen is a fantastic way to relax, and being spotted reading a good book earns you some retro caché on the metro or at a coffee shop.
I do have one gripe, however. I’m tired of people recommending books about marketing, technology, the latest social media trends, sensationalist economics, and pseudo-scientific behavioral bullshit. (Yes I’m talking about you, Mr. Gladwell.) Just because I’m in advertising doesn’t mean I want to spend my leisure time reading up on some well-regarded 50 year-old’s thoughts on Twitter. I like books for their ability to describe places and experiences I cannot experience or have not experienced for myself – to expand my world view.
i still do
last book i read was “the pixar touch.” currently reading “trust agents.”
I think this question is getting a little tired. If Jeff Bezos and Amazon haven’t yet proven that we read books, then I’m not sure what will prove it. Yes, I read books. Lots of them, but I also fancy myself a writer, so maybe I’m not representative. That being said, if i look at my circle of friends, I can tell you that there’s about a 50/50 split between people who read books, and people who don’t. Alarming? Not so much, because if I look at my parents’ friends, I see the same general breakdown.
Gen Y reads books, and if devices like the Kindle (which I bought my girlfriend for Christmas – another avid Gen-Y book reader) continue to make it EASIER for us to read, then we’ll just keep reading. As for the last book I read, I’m in the middle of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, and before that, and I just finished Unmarketable by Anne Elizabeth Moore (an interesting read for anyone who wants to understand more about marketing to Gen Y, even if I don’t agree with many of Ms. Moore’s arguments).
I agree with Adam about the 50/50 split with readers and non-readers. I am definitely a reader, though it’s been renewed since I graduated. I loved reading when I was younger, but when I got to high school and college and had summer reading lists and lots of reading for courses, I liked to do anything but read in my free time. When I was working a retail job before I got a “real job,” I had to find something to do in my down time, so I started “really” reading again. Now I’m going to the library more and finding lots of books I want to read.
I can’t imagine a life without books and reading! I was raised with them as a form of entertainment first, education second, so I still find solace in using them as an escape from the real world. I’ve mostly been a fiction girl in my book travels, but have recently been reading more nonfiction mostly centered around sociology, mathematics, and 60′s history.
I do have to admit I’m usually reading 2 or 3 books at a time (I think this semester I reached 5 at one point and held a self-guided intervention to finish some), which could easily support the theory that Gen Y-ers are less focused and more scatter-oriented than previous generations.
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No doubt my daily/evening life is consumed by twitter, RSS, and websites. Still feel it is important to step away and fall into a book for 30 minutes before bed every night, if I can find the time. It provides a much needed reprieve from the laptop and forces me off the grid. The last book I read was last month “Into Thin Air” http://bit.ly/3tDsJS, now I’m onto “When the Game Was Ours” http://bit.ly/4wDGTuby To me one of the most redeeming qualities of books is sharing them with friends.
Just found an article that quotes this U.S. Department of Labor statistic – 15 to 24 y.o. Americans spend less than nine minutes a day reading books http://bit.ly/5Zfiyr Looks like more and more publishers will be going online. I wonder how much Gen Y reads altogether (online+print) compared to other generations…
Not only do I still read books, I still go to bookstores!
It’s easy to think that the group of familiarity-addicted iphone junkies speak for Gen Y because they’re so vocal, so… present. But to take their position on intellectual pursuits and blanket an entire generation is unfair and a bad move for any brand.
Instead of asking, “How can we sell books to Millennials if they only read online” (a question that stinks of marketing myopy) wouldn’t it be great if publishers focused on publishing compelling stories penned by this new crop of thinkers, adventurers, and lollygaggers?
Books will continue to sell. I read them, I buy them, I treasure them. Every single one of the people in my social group does the same to some degree. The rush to go digital seems more about pandering to a little group of ostensible influencers than it is about producing books with true legacy value.
Last book I read: Born To Run – Ask for it at your local library if you don’t have the $ to drop. Fantastic read about elite desert running.
BTW, if you, dear reader, are under the age of 25 and would like to write a book review or some other bit of insight for TNGG, please hit up the contact form and get in touch or come find me and ask about the process. We’d love to have you!
I’m definitely a reader, like everyone else who’s commented so far (I’d love to see a non-reader’s perspective here, though…). Mark, I totally agree that printed books are a sweet escape from the harsh, mesmerizing lights of the computer screen. Books are wonderful, but a lot of people (from Gen-Y to our grandparents’ generation) just don’t enjoy reading. Is it a product of technology or lifestyle changes or something else? I think there are some people who don’t read and are fine with that choice – like my boyfriend and many of my friends – and that’s okay, isn’t it?
The last book I read cover-to-cover was probably “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut, or “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway. Currently, I’m in a marketing state of mind, so I’ve immersed myself in Bogusky & Winsor’s “Baked In” – and while it’s sometimes a challenge to wrap my 22-year-old, freshly-graduated head around some of those fascinating ideas, I love it.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by edwardboches: Gen Y, do you still read books? Actual books? (even on Kindle) or just Facebook status updates and text messgs? http://bit.ly/7aRY8h #tngg…
I read at least one book per week, usually two. There is never a time when I don’t have a book on the go. I read everything from ‘guilty pleasure’ pulp fiction to brain-bleeding books on quantum theory and can’t imagine not having a book on the go. Not only do I read for myself I also love reading aloud to the little ‘uns in my life. Reading is simply one of life’s greatest pleasures and I can’t see me ever stopping. I’m going blind, but even when my eyesight has failed to the point where I can’t use my eyes to read, I’ll just switch to audio books and let my ears do the reading.
Oh, and as for the last book I read, I’ve just finished ‘The Spell’ by Alan Hollinghurst. You can even check out my review of it on my website, if you like.
My fiancee comes into the ‘non-reader’ category, but it’s purely because she’s dyslexic and while she can overcome the dyslexia enough to be able to read when she needs to, it’s too much of an effort for reading to be something she would choose to do for pleasure.
Saying this, she’s out the effort in and read a few novels this year and is justifiably proud of herself for doing so.
Yes… I do read books… The hard copy is way better than the soft copy… I’d rather get the printed form for myself than buy the ebook…. I’m a voracious reader….
I feel like this question is more about the substance of what we read, rather than where or how. Online articles and blog posts are really no longer than anything you’d find in a magazine. So do we read long or short form things? Personally, I read about a book a month. Unfortunately I probably buy at least 2… I don’t read long form online (maybe if I had a kindel).
I understand that book sales may be dropping, and the idea that the internet has cultivated a generation of non-readers is a very attractive, reasonable explanation. But, was there ever a golden age where everyone sat in their living rooms reading books all day? Isn’t this really the same problem we’ve had for a while? Since TV, since radio? I agree with Seth that rushing online probably won’t fix anything–because it’s not about where we read, but what and why.
I think the immense popularity of book series like Twilight and Harry Potter show that Gen Ys are still reading quite a lot. I think there will always be some appeal in getting lost in fantasy/other worlds that books create and I think the crazier and busier our lives get, the more relevant such a release will be.
I’m in the same boat as Angela. I almost completely stopped reading for pleasure during college, simply because I always had so much other reading to do for class. Now that I’ve graduated, I read all the time. I’ve recently read The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde and now I’m tearing through Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. You can usually find me reading on the subway during my 45 minute commute to and from work.
I am a book worm through and through. I love reading and collecting books! They’ve contributed to the decor of my room and are there if I ever feel the urge to pull out a passage and reread. Nothing about the Kindle or electronic readers attract me. I get enough of a headache reading the computer screen all day, so I don’t think I would want to read off of a Kindle.
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I love reading real, tangible, bulky, hard cover books. It feels like more of an accomplishment when I’m finished.
It’s great to know I’m not alone in my love of reading. Like many of you, college interrupted the flow of books into my life (and life after college is so busy I don’t often have the time to read for pleasure). But because I adore books, I read them whenever I had time–like over summer and winter breaks. (I read most of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged during my lunch breaks one summer). The latest books I’ve read are The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, and I’m working my way through Zen and Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
I also read a much greater amount of high-class (NYTimes, CSMonitor, WaPo, Globe Mag) magazine articles (online and offline) these days. Part of it has to do with the fact that I aspire to write for magazines, but another part of it is those magazines offer comprehensive looks at interesting topics told with an engaging voice that are easier to take in than a novel. As much as I enjoy knowing what is happening in the world around me (through newspaper) and in literature (books), magazine articles are my go-to venue to broaden and deepen my perspectives on a daily basis.
Now that I think about it, I believe I’ll carve out a time in my day for more books. Thanks for the inspiration, everyone!
I read constantly, and own well over 200 books. I’m glad to see so many other readers commenting, but as Adam points out I think this is a skewed sample, since it draws heavily from people who write. We are apparently not in keeping with the statistics.
I love books. For Christmas I got several (Currently I’m reading Kath Griffin’s memoir). Mostly, I read for school because it’s required and I don’t have time to do extra reading on my own. But when I have the opportunity to, I love having a book sitting next to me. However, I also think that e-books are the way the print industry is headed. My mom is getting a nook for Christmas (it’s still in the mail) and I’m really interested to see how it works. I think it’s easier to have tons of books all in one place.
Unfortunately I know that many don’t share my same love for books, especially in my generation. It can be difficult to pry ourselves away from the computer and sit quietly with a book.
I’ve seen this question asked of my generation a lot, and it infuriates me every time. What exactly do texting and social networking have to do with reading or not reading? Their only commonality is that they require you to be functionally literate. It’s like saying “Hey, they opened up a new airport nearby–so when are you going to sell your car??”
I don’t usually buy a book at a major bookseller (Barnes and Nobel or what have you) unless it’s a gift. I’m normally a library person, but in a gigantic metro library such as the Boston Public Library, more often than not the book I want is lost, checked out, late, or only available in large-print and/or Danish.
Local bookstores like Brookline Booksmith are the best (twitter.com/booksmithtweets). They have a great buy/sell used book program–you probably only lose 2-3$ per book you buy, they have a solid selection and weekly specials, and they also promote readings and signings by local writers and poets. It’s win-win all around, because I (unlike Mike) won’t keep a book after reading it unless I love it dearly or it was incredibly hard to find. If I finish a good book, I like to turn it around and pass it along to someone else.
I really enjoy reading physical books especially the qualities of it; like being able to crack the spine or the feel how much further you have to go, but i think that in the very near future reading an actual, physical, printed book will become much more of a luxury. A lot of this will have to do with the influx of online content and our generations consent need for 24 hour stimulation, but i think another thing might be the acceptance of the sheer volume of energy and product needed to create a physical book. We are all supposed to be going green now right? so it the slowing of book production ( which uses trees for paper and covers, lead, ink and other chemicals) really such a bad thing. If we are still able to covet the information or enjoy the story electronically, are we really still losing the “book”?
My friends and I all still read books- they are a welcome escape from staring at the computer screen or the tv screen all day! It also helps keep our imagination sharp.
[...] 2. If you haven’t heard, Edward Boches (Creativity Unbound, CCO of Mullen) has started The Next Great Generation, “a new blog written entirely by Gen-Y 18-25 year olds willing to share their thoughts regarding life, work, brands, technology, environment, money, faith, sex, love.” It’s good to see my generation coming together to defend the stereotypical criticisms often tossed our way. Most recently, we answered the (stupid) question, “Do you still read books?” [...]
Yes, I read books. I think the reason books will be around forever is the need to step away from technology for a little while. I love curling up in my bed under a blanket book in hand. I stare at a computer screen all day long and it can get tiring and often can result in a headache. A book, an actual print copy, is the alternative form of entertainment. It’s one of the few things left in today’s world that allows complete imagination and individual interpretation.
I love reading. I have always read a lot. I used to read several books a month, but after my second semester junior year things got out of control and now I barely have time to read. Now I read about a book in 2 months, which is really sad. Not only do I read, but I read real paper books. I tried electronic versions but they sucked. I could never read more than a few pages. Even the Kindle didn’t help. It is just not the same. There is something magical about flipping paper pages. I am trying to read as much as possible during breaks. Yesterday I opened the Lost Symbol and by 11 pm I was done. Sadly, not all Millennials read books. Some of my friends have never opened a book for pleasure. There reading is limited to textbooks and magazines.
I have always been an avid reader, trying to mix work and play (I’m a sucker for Stephen King) . However the instances where I will end up reading the most in a sitting are those where I was not expecting to have a vast amount of free time. Unexpected car trouble, disabled train, or extra wait time at the dentist’s office are some of the best times for me to focus on a book. Having to constantly trudge around a book for such a scenario isn’t very practical, so it was safe to say that I was starting to trend towards hardly ever reading. While I would never buy a device which could only read eBooks, when Amazon released the kindle app for the Ipod Touch/IPhone, I was instantly hooked. Now I had the instant gratification aspect I love in my technology (I hear about a good book, I go online, pay LESS than a physical copy, and have a perfectly preserved copy on the device I always have on me). Combined with programing that uses the touch screen to emulate the tactile experience of flipping pages, I have found that the convenience and portability of eBooks have actually increased my reading time despite life being a whole lot less predictable and much busier since high school.
I read, I read a LOT.
I have a Kindle account and go through a book a week (on average) reading on the subways. In addition, I always have 2-3 books on my nightstand which I rotate, finishing about 2 a month (on average).
I read magazines when I’m waiting to buy groceries, I read tweets, I read blog posts and I read news articles.
I used to get yelled at for not coming to dinner because I was in the middle of a good book a a kid, and more recently had to turn my cell phone on when I was on a cruise… not to use it – but to read a book in my Kindle account on it by the pool.
I know many people my age who read, and we regularly share book lists ranging from the super serious to the fancy free.
I think this question is getting a little tired. If Jeff Bezos and Amazon haven't yet proven that we read books, then I'm not sure what will prove it. Yes, I read books. Lots of them, but I also fancy myself a writer, so maybe I'm not representative. That being said, if i look at my circle of friends, I can tell you that there's about a 50/50 split between people who read books, and people who don't. Alarming? Not so much, because if I look at my parents' friends, I see the same general breakdown.
Gen Y reads books, and if devices like the Kindle (which I bought my girlfriend for Christmas – another avid Gen-Y book reader) continue to make it EASIER for us to read, then we'll just keep reading. As for the last book I read, I'm in the middle of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, and before that, and I just finished Unmarketable by Anne Elizabeth Moore (an interesting read for anyone who wants to understand more about marketing to Gen Y, even if I don't agree with many of Ms. Moore's arguments).
I read at least a book a week. Well, I'll read 3-4 books in one week and then none for a couple weeks, so I guess I average a book a week. Mind you, I live in Africa and am not doing much else, but I've always loved reading. Just finished Native Tongue, currently reading Dark Star Safari.
I love books. Unless I am utterly exhausted, I prefer them to TV. I owned an Austin Public Library card in college and now have a Dallas card. The great thing about the library is that I can afford to read as many books as I want and also find a lot of undiscovered literature that I would never peruse in a book store.
I think reading keeps my mind active, strengthens my vocabulary, and improves my writing skills, or at least keeps them in check.