By Stephen Beech

Reading for pleasure is in “freefall” – dropping over 40% in the last 20 years, warns new research.

The “deeply concerning” findings raise urgent questions about the cultural, educational and health consequences of reading less, say scientists.

The study, published in the journal iScience , found that daily reading for pleasure in the United States has declined by more than 40% over the last two decades.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Florida analyzed data from more than 236,000 Americans.

They say the findings suggest a “fundamental cultural shift” with fewer people carving out time in their day to read for enjoyment .

Dr. Jill Sonke, of the University of Florida, said: “This is not just a small dip – it’s a sustained

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