There’s been a lot of dire news about literacy lately about the low rates of reading among men. The general concerns about literacy are merited. Eighth-grade reading scores are at a 30-year low. Despite millions of dollars spent on literacy programs, one-third of fourth graders have not achieved a basic reading level. College students, even at elite schools, are showing up unable to read long-form.
And it’s no wonder: Every demographic surveyed reports a decline in time spent reading for pleasure. That means 4th-grade, 8th-grade, and college students’ parents. Nearly half of all adults did not read a single book in 2024. None of this is good. But the focus on men and their reading habits has taken a propagandist turn.
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