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One in four adults admits: 'I haven't read a book for a year'
Last updated at 15:22pm on 09.01.08
A quarter of adults have not read a book in the last year. (Posed by model)
Ministers published the findings as they urged bosses to set up libraries in former workplace smoking rooms to transform employees' reading habits.
Launching the National Year of Reading campaign, they said research showed nearly half of adults had read at least five books in the previous 12 months.
Yet a quarter had not read a single book during the same period, including almost half of males aged between 16 and 24, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.
A separate survey had shown a third of Britons read "challenging literature" in order to seem well-read even though they could not follow what the book was about.
It also found that 40 per cent had lied about having read certain books "just so they could join in with the conversation".
Around half of 4,000 adults who responded to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council poll said reading classics makes you look more intelligent.
The Government campaign aims to target reluctant readers, particular boys and their fathers.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls added that more time would be set aside in the primary school day for reading as part of a review of the curriculum.
Parents are also being urged to spend at least ten minutes a day reading with their children.
At a Downing Street seminar to launch the National Year of Reading, the Prime Minister said the drive could prove one of the Government's most effective social policies.
"It's not just the joy of reading, father-to-son or in the classroom," said Mr Brown.
"It's also the benefits of reading. It's probably one of the best anti-poverty, antideprivation, anti-crime, anti-vandalism policies you can think of."
Reader views (5)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
I don't understand this fascination about adults not reading books. It doesn't make you any more intelligent if you read a book or two a year. Can adults who read Harry Potter stories, Jackie Collins, Jeffrey Archer or any other novel or biography really to claim to be more intelligent. In fact I would go as far as saying reading fiction possibly lowers the intelligence, and reading biographies lowers it even more. Especially if you include the people whose biographies sell well such as Jordan, any of the Spice Girls, anybody who wins the jungle show and any modern celebrity.
I think people would be better of trying to think of ways to improve the world rather than wasting their lives reading any sort of book.
- Steven Patrick M, London, UK
The study found that 40 per cent had lied about having read certain books "just so they could join in with the conversation".
That's a neat trick - being able to have a conversation about a book one has not read.
- Squiz, Islington
It's not that we don't want to read. It's simply this drivel they publish nowadays and try to pass it off as bestsellers. There's nothing to read! No thanks. I'd much rather read a good article online.
- Mike, London
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