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City, Suburban Folk Read More Than Rural Folk

New data sheds light on the reading habits of Americans by community type

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by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t +

Image: Flickr

Putting aside the link between reading and being thin, what exactly is the link between geography and the likelihood of picking up a good (or bad) book?

Henry Grabar at The Atlantic can tell us. He passes along data from the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life project that details the reading habits of Americans living in cities, suburbs and rural areas of the country. It found that while four out of five of those in big metros - inner city to outer suburbs - claim to have read a book in the last year, a somewhat smaller number of folks in rural areas had done the same.

"Rural residents come in a distinct third, with 71 percent reporting having read a book in the last 12 months," writes Grabar. "Rural residents who do read books, though, read as much as their densely settled counterparts."

Other trivia gleaned from the data: for all three groups, over three-quarters of those surveyed read for pleasure; nearly 60% of city and suburb dwellers read for work or school, compared to 47% of rural residents; and when it comes to e-books, people in cities are leading the way, "while suburbanites still read the most magazines."

Via The Atlantic.
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What do you think explains these differences in reading habits across communities?

157 Comments (view in Forum)

  • CommonSense
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    Nearly everyone has internet nowadays. And if they don't they have cars, they can drive into town and visit the library or bookstore.
  • stepped_in_it
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    HMM, when I lived in the city, someone mowed the grass (not much bigger than a postage stamp), cleaned the pool and took care of the outside (townhome living). Now, I live in the country, mow 2+ acres, swim in da pond (yuck) and take care of the outside. Time is not on my hands....it's in the yard!
  • Thunderchicken
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    Almost exactly the point I was going to make. My relatives are ranchers in NM. They work dawn till dark. Usually six and a half days a week. (More than I want to work) Other than winter, I don't think they have time to read much.
  • seedtick
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    I live in the country...real country. But, I read a lot...I wonder what these poll takers consider "reading." Is is fiction, non-fiction, periodicals...books on the best seller lists? I do a lot of historical research and read everything from census records to land deeds....from death certificates to marriage licenses. But, the New York Times Best Seller List doesn't mean a damned thing to me...and I have not read a Time Magazine in a couple of years. I just don't think I read what city folks read, so what does the poll mean?
  • seedtick
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    @AceLuby No...not completely. My wife probably reads more ebooks than most people rural or city. She listens to them via earphones much of the time. I got one for Christmas and will read it on the installment plan between other tasks. Like the other folks on here have said, country folks have more physical labor involved with personal duties than city folks do. I live on 15 acres of woodland and mow about 1.5 acres around my home. I have a winter garden. I hunt and fish. I do historical research on behalf of our local Historical Commission. These things are not addressed in the article. Whoever wrote it evidently had in mind to somehow make city folks out to be more learned than rural folks...I suggest that they must ommit the intercity low income folks first. Rural folks are into reading about the things that keep them abreast of these rural activities.
  • AceLuby
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    @seedtick I just found it ironic that you went into such detail about how avid of a reader you are and didn't even bother to read the article which answered most, if not all, of your questions.

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  • Rocker
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    That is probably true. I work away from home full time during the week and I have a chance to read. On the weekend getting back to the country, I don't have that much time to. I'll read as much Clive Cussler as I can get my hands on - outside of trade literature.
  • justapirate
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    I'm rural. I'd say there's a few reasons why there would be a reading discrepency. The lifestyle alone says we need to be a little busier than city folk. That cuts down on reading time. We are less likely to lay hands on magazines. Limited availability out here. Walk-in purchases of books are far less out here. All we really have for available new books is what the Walmart in the next town stocks and I wouldn't brag about the selection.
    I keep a rather large personal library and I know many of my friends do. I've read everything in there multiple times, some as many as twenty times. Friends make the same claim.
    I notice we don't 'swap' books often. We kinda protect our collections. And our way of ending the day involves a book with our heads propped up in bed.
    I don't really know how accurate the survey in the story above is but I think far fewer rural folks were actually consulted.
  • AlexMIA
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    Your missing the real premise that surveys like this are really trying to infer. That is, them backwoods folk aren't as smart as them city people. I don't buy it either!
  • UnCommonBoston
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    @AlexMIA I don't think think the article implies that. In North Dakota, the owners of the big family, not corporate, farms started their day with the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and the local papers. Maybe the didn't have time for books, but they were not stupid! They were successful businessmen.
  • AlexMIA
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    @UnCommonBoston I know rural folks are not any dumber or smarter than other people. I'm just saying some of these think tanks sometimes try to get you to think so. In this case, with Pew it may not be the case, they are pretty straight shooters.

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  • Dan_Tien
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    "It found that while four out of five of those in big metros... claim to have read a book in the last year, a somewhat smaller number of folks in rural areas had done the same."

    That's easy. City folks lie more.
  • dances-weebles
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    when you say that city folks are lying about having read a book it begs the question,'why would anybody lie about reading?' your post makes no sense.

    tell me, how many books have you read recently? when was the last time you finished a book? do you read for pleasure? do you read every day? do you read at night before you go to sleep? do you read every week? do you read once in a while? tell me, what are your reading habits. my wife and i read constantly, and so does our 11 year old. now that our 7 year old is learning to read semi-proficiently he's picking up the habit, also. for christmas and birthdays we always give books as presents... even to children. how about you? do you give or receive books for christmas or on your birthdays?
  • methinks
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    @dances-weebles Where do you live? City or country? If you have that much time on your hands to read, then my guess is the city. Those of us in rural areas have homes and properties to maintain and I spend a good deal of time outside, especially in the summer with taking care of the lawn and our huge vegetable garden, plus the flower beds and pool.
  • Dan_Tien
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    @dances-weebles Do you haff vays off making me tock? Do you need a ladder to climb up on your high horse?

    Why would someone lie about reading? To make themselves seem more cultured and intelligent.
  • UnCommonBoston
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    @dances-weebles @Dan_Tien I know people who think reading is a waste of time and books a waste in general. I can't imagine they would lie about reading. They are proud they have better things to do.

    I have always been a reader, regardless of where I lived -- country, suburbs or city. If there weren't libraries, I hunted for book stores. With the Internet, I buy online. My son recently requested I help him build a library. So I send a books, mostly non-fiction: history, politics or business. Books I think a well informed person needs to read. He grew up with books and recently became interested again.

    I am always in the middle of a book and read 1 - 3 per week. Plus magazines and information on the Internet -- which may not count in the survey, but is part of many people's general reading habits. It seemed I was the only person on the beach not reading 50 Shades of Gray -- I did try -- 1491, a history book had my full attention.

    When living in very rural areas, I was often in the minority as a reader and had to travel to the big city to find books.

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  • Realthinker
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    Farmers work sixteen hour days. They can be miles from the nearest library or book store and may not be able to afford an ereader. But just in case the people don't know, the libs have found yet another way to prove they are better "informed" than the bumpkins. I'm beginning to think they protest too much.
  • dances-weebles
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    um... when you talk about 'libs' are you referring to liberals? if so, are you inferring that there are no 'liberal' farmers? are you also inferring that farmers can't read after supper, rather than plopping down in front of the tv?

    it really doesn't matter how many hours a day one works... there's always time to read a book.
  • Belin
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    I wonder what part of the country was polled. Yes, city folk have more time on their hands to read. The rural population is outside getting work done! I and many of my friends live in what large cities would call rural areas, though they really are not. We are educated. We read for fun as well as for continuing education. I don't read magazines. The only time I refer to a magazine is for fashion. So that my daughter is dressed fashionable, not faddish. I do it for myself also, but put her first.
    I read fiction and non fiction. Fiction for fun, non fiction to stay up to date. I know many, many more just like me here in what is considered rural by very large cities. Also the premise that people who read are thinner sounds like complete idiocity!
  • dances-weebles
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    well, i suppose that if you read a lot of self help books on proper diet and dieting you may stay thinner, but i haven't noticed it overly much in myself. *grin*
  • Belin
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    @dances-weebles
    The remark about people who read tend to be thinner did not originate with me. I just replied to it.
  • UnCommonBoston
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    Better access to books is one factor. I also think people read because of book clubs, lectures and book talks by authors, book reviews in our local media, and maybe just seeing others read on the train, bus or a park bench encourages it. I did notice the magazine selection in a rural grocery store did not include US World and News Report, The New Yorker, Fortune, and other more thought provoking magazines. Quilting -- you betcha, many choices. Not sure if that means anything.
  • dances-weebles
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    you really think so? that never worked for me, nor for most people that i've known. in fact, i've always carried a book with me and when i get home i open a book, rather than turning on the tv.
  • texas_cutie75
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    I am rural folk, I have a Kindle and multitudes of books in my library. I am a big fan of Half Priced Books and am in there frequently. I also work full time and am furthering my nursing career, pleasure reading has taken a bit of a backseat, but trade reading is at an all time high!
  • dances-weebles
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    sadly, books... even used books, are horribly expensive where we live... and especially if they're written in english. we still manage to get them, though.
  • texas_cutie75
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    @dances-weebles

    There is a website called abebooks.com . You might give them a try, I have gotten some ridiculously cheap (shipping too) books that I have loved! Fast shipping too. I found them while looking for a nurses drug guide.
  • mimi57
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    @texas_cutie75 I know more educated idiots then I care to remember. My sister-in-law and father -in-law who throw 50 cent words around
    to make themselves feel "superior". I had a boss who was the epitome of arrogance. He wrote a book and had it published ( it probably cost him a lot of
    money )...he would leave it on the main office table, and some on other tables
    to "impress" everyone that HE had written a book. I don't think anyone bought
    a copy, but it sure did boost his already inflated ego. Reading is great and a lot
    is informative, but sometimes I want to say get off your azz and DO something.
    Rural people are probably very busy, not everyone has to be a 'scholar', some
    are happy doing actual physical labor and they probably live longer. I say get an
    education, and then get a job and get over yourself! No one cares about the number of degrees you have...unless you're a doctor.
  • dances-weebles
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    @mimi57 thank you very much for denigrating my several years of study to the dustbin... and calling me an idiot because i actually worked my ass off and got my degrees... i've also driven big trucks, worked in a coal mine, done farm work until my back broke, worked as a cook and a chef, a dishwasher, a waiter, and janitor. why do you call me an 'educated idiot'?(i've heard the term before and it didn't make any more sense then, either.)

    btw... in this day and age even a farmer needs to study and should have at least a 4 year degree in animal husbandry and agricultural studies if he wants to do more than milk a cow and grow a few tomatoes for his own enjoyment and call himself 'a farmer'
  • mimi57
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    @dances-weebles Don't take it personal Weeble...we both know they exist. I didn't say you were one. I just get
    tired of some people who go on and on about their 'education'. There comes a time when it's time to put it to
    work, we have "professional students " now. That makes no sense to me.

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  • RobertJHarsh
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    The rural guy. He has fluoride free water and less exposure to toxic wastes found in the cities. Doesn't matter if they can read or not.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @dances-weebles I don't know the brain isn't what gets clogged with cholestorol and gives one a heart attack, or gets a work out from hard physical labor that helps hold weight down, reduces cholestorol and blood sugar and keeps the heart and lungs in shape. Your brain may funtion better, but it is kind of useless if your respritory capacity or heart stop funtioning...
  • WMCOL
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    Rural mostly hicks who tend to be conservatives and closed-minded, and surbanites tend to be liberal and open-minded.

    What really cut down on rural reading was the scarcity of comic books and the high price of the few still left in circulation.
  • puppybrownie
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    I wonder what it is you read that makes you such a narrow-minded, partisan hack who lacks the ability to think for yourself. Maybe the New York Times? No, too many big words! LOL
  • WMCOL
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    @texas_cutie75
    Well, it was just the truth, which can seem a lot a of ways to a lot of people, but somewhat immune to most rural hicks. In other words, they won't get it and will see it as closed-minded.
  • PNWest
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    Damn WMCOL. And I thought I posted some incendiary things. I gotta give you credit for speaking your mind though. The comic book slam was very original.
  • texas_cutie75
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    @WMCOL
    I was raised in a rural area, was brought up reading classics and being taught manners and to help those who need help if you are able to. You should not paint folks with the same brush.
    One could say that urbanites and suburbanites are consumed with their own little world, but I'm not going to go there.

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  • kathyparsell
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    Not that I am necessarily disagreeing with these findings, but it certainly isn't true of my community. Our library is Unfortunantly only open six days a week. But due to it proximity to the stop light often distrupts traffic because of patrons coming and going across from the parking lot. I see people, many of which are by appearance poor, carrying books plural. I was often there when my girls were in high school but because my family likes to read, what we don't buy for ourselves, we just borrow and pass on down the line. While my mother was alive she regularly subscribed to ten or twelve magazines every year and gave National Geo to all sons-in-laws for Xmas. I can't in good conscious subscribe (Sinful waste of resources) but I can buy anything from Cosmo to NG to Wired at the grocery store. If people weren't buying Food City wouldn't be selling. Some rural community's in Southwest Virginia must read.
  • martydotcom
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    Reading habits form as a child: Rural areas have an aversion to paying taxes including school taxes. The tax bases for funding schools with no industry yields little funding anyway. Hence poor schools. . There are few if any Head Start pre school available in the rural areas. . If a child comes from a lousy school and is born to parents who don't habitually read the child will never discover the joy of knowledge as a reader. Reading used one of the modes people used to relax. Kids now prefer the stimulation of shoot em up or GTA type games to sitting down with a good book.
  • PNWest
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    I think that the reason for this is a difference in lifestyle. I now live in a semi-rural area after spending the bulk of my life in suburban and urban areas. There is much more free time available when you live in an urban area. A simple trip to the grocery store and back that took 30 minutes in the city takes an hour and a half when you live in a rural area. When there is less free time there is going to be less leisure reading.
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