Around the world there has been a noticeable decline in reading in recent years. This has been the case across all age groups. At the same time, there has been a noticeable increase in video viewing and scrolling. It is particularly reading for pleasure and reading long books and articles that has reduced. People are
still reading short articles, short opinion pieces, headlines and captions. But serious long-form reading has declined.

In part this is due to our shorter attention spans. We cannot concentrate on anything for a significant period of time, particularly something we have to put some effort into, such as reading. Scrolling is far easier, watching one video after another is less demanding. The difficulty with reading is especially pronounced with younger people, who have grown up with screens all around them. Schools also generally now read shorter pieces rather than encouraging reading books. Often reading is seen as a chore. Of course, that reinforces the difficulty in reading deeply.

They way get our information and spend our leisure time impacts how we think and live. A reduction in reading is linked to a decline in critical thinking. In part that is also related to a loss of writing capabilities. Reading enables people to write. And writing teaches us to think. It teaches us to organise, to think through ideas and to put them into words. And it enables us to think more deeply—beyond the sound bites and easy answers.

As many commentators have noted, we have passed peak literacy. This will not only affect how we get our information, but how society thinks and argues, the ideas that are formed and the ideas that are discussed.

Jews and Christians have been known as people of the Book, because for centuries now they have focused on the Bible and through that have also advanced literacy in general. If people are less able to read, they will also find it harder to read the Bible and the rich literary treasures of the Church.

I have to admit that I myself read less these days than I used to. The trend has affected us all. I’m not sure that we can or should fight against it, but I do hope that we can get the opportunity and ability to read and reflect deeply.

Book fair
There will be a parish book fair on 10 October 2026. If you want to have a look at your shelf and see whether any books need to be cleared out, we would welcome donations in the coming weeks. Of course, there will also be the opportunity to buy some books at the book fair, so that you can get reading again.