Books vs Screens: Why Reading is in Decline - A Critical Discussion

 When was the last time you picked up a book—not on a screen, but a real one—and read a few pages without distractions? For many of us, the answer is troubling. We swipe more than we turn pages, and the old saying "books are man's best friend" seems to be losing its meaning.

📚 The Alarming Global Decline

Reading for pleasure is declining worldwide at an unprecedented rate:

• In the United States, daily reading for pleasure has dropped by almost 40% in just 20 years
• In the UK, the National Literacy Trust reports children's reading enjoyment has fallen to its lowest level ever—only a third of children enjoy reading in their free time
• In India, students are increasingly drifting away from books and recreational reading

But reading is more than just a hobby. It's a workout for the brain that builds focus, empathy, and imagination. It teaches us to think deeply and understand others better.

📱 The Digital Distraction Factor

Professor Geeta Bhatt, Director of Non-Collegiate Women Education Board at Delhi University, identifies a critical shift in our reading culture. "The connectivity in the digital world is dominating our lives," she explains. The family culture of reading together—grandparents sharing stories from Ramayana or Mahabharata, parents discussing newspaper articles—is diminishing.

Post-COVID, this problem has accelerated dramatically. Children who attended online classes developed shortened attention spans, particularly affecting those aged 5-12 when crucial cognitive skills develop. Some countries are taking drastic action:

• Finland has banned smartphones in schools entirely
• South Korea passed legislation to ban smartphones in schools from 2026 through class 12

📖 A Publisher's Perspective: Hope Amid Concern

Milli Ashwarya, Publisher and Senior Vice President at Penguin Random House India, offers a more optimistic view. "In India, I see our business growing 10-15% every year. The readership is growing," she notes.

Key insights from the publishing industry:

• India is a developing market with increasing purchasing power
• Unlike mature markets in the US and UK experiencing decline, India's reading culture is still expanding
• New genres are thriving—particularly poetry among young readers
• Short story collections are gaining popularity, adapting to modern attention spans

💻 The Digital Age: Threat or Opportunity?

Today's readers have unprecedented access to books through multiple formats:

• E-books and audiobooks offer convenience
• Same-day delivery makes physical books instantly accessible
• Digital platforms aid in discovering new voices and authors
• Public spaces like libraries and reading clubs are creating community connections

Yet a concerning paradox emerges: people buy books, but do they finish reading them? University libraries are seeing declining footfall. Students prefer e-formats, often for ease of converting to assignments rather than deep reading.

⚠️ What Are We Losing?

When we read fewer books, we sacrifice:

• Focused thinking and concentration ability
• Critical thinking skills
• Enhanced creativity and imagination
• Empathy and emotional intelligence
• Deep comprehension versus superficial summaries

The rise of AI makes it even easier to get book summaries without engaging with the full text—raising questions about the depth of our learning.

✨ Practical Solutions: Rekindling the Reading Habit

From the discussion, here are actionable strategies:

1. Create Routines: Designate specific reading times—early morning, before bed, or weekend afternoons
2. Remove Distractions: Keep your phone in a different room while reading
3. Start Small: Even 30 minutes daily (3-4 hours weekly) is beneficial
4. Join Reading Communities: Book clubs and public reading events in parks create accountability
5. Build Infrastructure: Advocate for more public libraries and reading spaces
6. Family Culture: Model reading behavior for children
7. Explore Formats: Try audiobooks during commutes or e-books for portability

🌟 The Verdict: Reading is Not Dead

While mature Western markets show decline, India's reading culture demonstrates resilience and growth. The challenge isn't whether people are reading, but how we can expand and deepen that engagement across all age groups.

Success stories abound: Arundhati Roy's recent book sold 50,000 copies in a month. Young poet Ritik Singh sold 110,000 copies in 10 months. The World Book Fair sees queues half a kilometer long, with people buying books by the suitcase.

The love for reading may be challenged, but it's far from gone. Every page we turn opens a new world, inspiring imagination, empathy, and lifelong learning. The joy of reading can always be rekindled—in us, in our children, and in generations yet to come.

What will you read next?

---

This post is based on a Sarokar discussion on Sansad TV featuring insights from Prof. Geeta Bhatt (Delhi University) and Milli Ashwarya (Penguin Random House India).