In a world increasingly dominated by screens, the ability to read and engage with books is slipping through the fingers of even the brightest students.
This morning, Christina, my editor, sent me an Atlantic article by Rose Horowitch titled “The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books.”. The subtitle struck a chord: “To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.”
Growing Problem of Literacy among Elite Students
The article details a growing problem: In recent years, students, even at top-tier schools, struggle to keep up with the college reading load. Horowitch points out that, “College kids have never read everything they’re assigned, of course, but this feels different. … Many students no longer arrive at college—even at selective, elite colleges—prepared to read books.”
Nicholas Dames, a literature professor at Columbia University notices that his students are entirely unprepared to read multiple books in a semester. In the past, his syllabus had first-year students working through a book every week or two, and the reading list for his “great books” course was challenging. Certainly, students in the 1990s and early 2000s were challenged, but they were not overwhelmed. For several years, Dames had wondered what changed. Then, one day a student revealed to him that during her entire high school experience, she had never read an entire book. Instead, she read excerpts, poems, and articles—all short-form reading assignments. She didn’t know how to read a book from beginning to end.
A Personal Journey with Books
I was fortunate. My mother taught me to read before I turned three. We didn’t have many books, but my grandmother did, and the local library was a short walk away. I’d haul home as many books as I could carry, upset at the thought of having to return them. By 13, I was working full-time, washing dishes. When I got paid, some of that money always went toward books—Conan, Tarzan, and Sherlock Holmes became my companions. If I was ever punished, it meant I got to dive even deeper into worlds with hobbits and wizards. Books have never left my side. As I write this, I’m surrounded by shelves of them, and my basement houses a second library.
Why Reading Books Is Different from Watching Movies
If you’ve ever read a book before watching its film adaptation, you know the disappointment that’s common when seeing the on-screen version. The movie rarely matches what you’ve conjured in your mind, and screenplays often take shortcuts, changing key scenes and even removing entire plotlines. Reading is like painting with words, creating landscapes and characters unique to your imagination. A movie, in contrast, offers only one perspective, like seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
The Importance of Reading for Personal Growth
Mark Twain once said, “Those who don’t read are no better off than those who can’t.” If you want to be an educated person, you must read books. Videos are passive—they entertain but don’t engage the mind in the same way. Book summaries, too, leave out the nuance and depth that only the full work can provide. To understand the complete context and appreciate the language and writing style, read the original.
Digital Distractions and the Decline of Reading Habits
It’s alarming that the smartphone era, while hailed as smart, is in many ways making us dumber. With a constant barrage of feeds from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and endless notifications, it’s no wonder attention spans are shrinking. This addiction to screens is one of the reasons people avoid reading—they’re too distracted by mindless scrolling.
Alarming Statistics about Teen Reading Habits
Recent data paints a concerning picture of teen reading habits. A mere 20 percent of teenagers engage with traditional reading materials like books, magazines, or newspapers for pleasure. In stark contrast, a staggering 85 percent interact with social media platforms daily. This dramatic shift in how young people consume information is more than just a passing trend—it’s a potential threat to the very foundations of our society. The ability to read, comprehend, and critically analyze written content is crucial for effective communication, deep understanding, and the preservation of democratic values, particularly in our current era, where the line between fact and fiction is increasingly blurred.
Global Decline in Reading for Enjoyment
This global decline in reading isn't just a statistic; it's a crisis of imagination and critical thinking. In my travels and conversations with business leaders worldwide, I've observed a disturbing trend: the ability to engage deeply with ideas is waning. This isn't just about books—it's about our capacity to innovate, solve complex problems, and lead with vision. As someone deeply invested in developing sales leaders, I can't stress enough how crucial it is to reverse this trend. Reading isn't just a pastime; it's a fundamental skill for success in any field, especially in sales and leadership.
If you want a sustainable advantage over your competitors and a way to create value for your clients and your prospective clients, read consequential books. You will feel like a better salesperson to your clients when you know things that they don’t. We call this idea being One-Up, and you can learn more in Elite Sales Strategies: A Guide to Being One-Up, Creating Value, and Becoming Truly Consultative.
If you want to be a better and more well-read person, you can join our One-Up Book Club. Here are the first five books for 2024:
- On the Edge by Nate Silver
- How Migration Really Works by Hein de Haas
- Over Ruled by Neil Gorsuch
- Minds Wide Shut by Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro
- Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari
