One in four adults read no books last year. It’s a lead story in newspapers today. According to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Tuesday, of those who did read, women and seniors were most avid and religious works and pop fiction were the top choices. The typical person read four books in the last year. Half read more and half read fewer. Excluding those who hadn’t read any, the usual number read was seven.
Analysists attribute the listlessness to competition from the Internet and other media, the unsteady economy, and a well-established industry with limited opportunities for expansion.
If pasta dishes were overtaking beef dishes in popularity, the Beef Industry would band together and have a national campaign, and maybe do commecials that said something like “BEEF, IT’S WHAT’S FOR DINNER!”
Or if the milk industry was experiencing flat sales, the Dairy Industry would probably come up with a campaign that said “GOT MILK?”
Instead, the publishing industry keeps pushing top tiered authors, and their own books to try and capture the seven books per reader.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but I wonder why the major publishers can’t band together for a campaign that doesn’t sell individual books. A campaign that promotes the excitement of reading. A series of billboards, television ads, print pieces, that show someone reading…on a beach…in bed…in an easy chair, on the train, on a plane, in a restaurant, in a library…and the catch phrase could be “A good book can go anywhere!” Or pictures of exotic locations, with the slogan “A book can take you anywhere.” Of just a series of print ads that say…” Read a good book lately?” Or maybe a campaign that shows a parent reading, and a little kid next to the parent with a book. The slogan could be “Kids learn good habits by example. Read a book!”
It seems to me that the publishing industry could help put some excitement back into reading. And if we could just get each reader in America to read one more book a year…just one, it might be mine. Or yours.
(Thanks to all who made the launch party for Stuff To Die For so successful…had over 150 people)
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My forty-some neighbor said my first book was the first he’d read SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. He liked it enough he picked up another book. Now THAT’S rewarding.
And congrats again on the new book!
by Judy
on September 4th, 2007 at 6:43 am
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Hey Don……How about “Take an author to bed tonight”?
Well if that’s to radical for them, I’m sure each of your excellent slogan/ideas are too.
This is the publishing industry. I don’t understand how these companies function….and I’m afraid they don’t either. Only true marketerscan see the untapped potential here.
Sorry we missed the launch party. Bet it was a blast!
Z
by David
on September 4th, 2007 at 7:06 am
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How about ‘Snuggle up with a good author.’ That’s a little less risque.
But you make such a valid point.
Why aren’t we pushing literacy and reading? It can only benefit all of us.
Pubs, author, etc.
cmr
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If I’m remembering correctly, Romance Writers of American conducted a literacy campaign a couple years ago. I think it featured posters of celebs reading. I have no idea what impact it had.
Part of the problem, I think (and Jeff can certainly address this better) is that schools don’t have the “luxury” of encouraging reading. All teaching is done with an eye on students passing standardized tests. I doubt if there’s much time for “fun” stuff like reading or for instilling an excitement for and a love of reading. Too bad. We’re shortchanging our children and hurting ourselves and our industry in the long run.
by Casey
on September 4th, 2007 at 8:39 am
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Additionally troubling is that most books sold today in the U.S. are non-fiction. Nothing wrong with reading non-fiction, of course, but it seems that the novel has become something of a dinosaur.
Which is a shame. Maybe it’s just my bias, but I’ve always felt I learn more about life, and especially about myself, from fictional stories. There is a lot more “truth” in fiction than non-fiction.
So, we’ve all got a lot of work to do turning things around. I suggest we start with a battle cry. Something along the line of “Remember the Alamo.”
How about “Remember Kokomo!”
by C.R.
on September 4th, 2007 at 8:39 am
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Not necessarily true, casey. My wife taught one quarter on mysteries two years ago, and the kids could pick almost any mystery they wanted to read. Juniors in highschool.
DB
Kokomo? Where is that, C.R.? Better yet, the question should be ‘Why is that?’
by Don
on September 4th, 2007 at 8:55 am
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Chris;
I had a slogan that was promoting book clubs and reading groups. I still have some of the T-shirts. They simply said
Readers do it with each other.
Don
by Don
on September 4th, 2007 at 9:05 am
