Do you still read for pleasure? According to the National Literacy Trust, only one-in-five 8 to 18 year olds read in their spare time, while half of the adult general public reportedly read any literature. The impact is evident even in academia, with many prominent universities scrapping their English Literature programmes from 2025 onward. When asked on the topic Dr. David Salter, a professor of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, noted an observable transformation of literary culture, even within the past 30 years: it used to be common to look up on a train and be surrounded by other passengers reading, yet nowadays if he looks up from his own book and sees another person reading, he finds himself caught off guard.
More often than not, the replacement for a book is a mobile phone. In the UK, the average daily screen time of 16 to 65 year olds is 6 hours 35 minutes. Since this is the example we provide to children, it is no surprise that the UK figure of children that read for pleasure daily has dropped so low. While one might assume parents would read to their children and introduce them to the joys of literature, this is not always possible. In Scotland, 26% of adults struggle due to their literacy skills. Therefore, the responsibility to introduce children to literature cannot be solely attributed to parents, or this generational literacy gap will only increase. This is when state intervention is vital, as Salter put it “Education is a way of providing children who are disadvantaged a step up.”
However, if children are exposed to literature exclusively in an academic context, they inevitably associate it with work. Another deterrent for reading common curriculum choices is that these texts are becoming increasingly far removed from contemporary readers, making it harder for students to connect with older texts. Yet, having noted a commonality in gender dynamics, 3rd year English Literature student Evie Pearce described her experience comparing Barbie (2023) and Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale (circa 1386): “That process of comparison and connecting dots across time was particularly enjoyable. I think a process like that in high school might have spared me some agonising lessons.” The balance between classic and contemporary literature in the school curricula should be considered to encourage student engagement, without having to sacrifice pioneering works. Salter says at times adolescent education is “neglecting the original sense of education—educare, ‘to bring out’—in favour of shaping students for the workplace” with many students perceiving that the emphasis is placed on achieving high exam scores rather than fostering genuine learning and understanding. As Olivia Amatller, third-year English Literature and Linguistics student, says, “[literature] does not necessarily have to be deep and serious; it can also be a way to escape our everyday life.”
Some argue that declining interest in literature signifies a loss of cultural and intellectual capabilities. When posed with this viewpoint, Evie jokingly said, “Ask a literature student this and of course she’ll say yes.” Then she expanded, “I think it’s more a sign of the times that literature isn’t given the same value as financial or technological pursuits in daily life.” Indeed, the work week is no longer limited to the office, and the division of home and work life seems increasingly blurred. With the cost of living, many people simply do not have the time to spare—which explains why over 65 are the largest group of readers. The benefit of literature to our society must not be forgotten. As Salter highlights, reading “makes people more empathetic” by providing an insight into others’ lives, thereby enabling us to “understand people and the world better.”
While accessibility issues contribute to the decline of reading, second hand stores and libraries provide more affordable alternatives to new bookstores. If choosing between an online subscription media service or physical books, consider the benefits of physical media: books collected by parents can become a resource for their children and peers, supporting local libraries ensures the maintenance of third places, and reading enriches our lives. The benefits of books and reading apply to more than just the individual reader.
Illustration by Mia Williams