Bookbabie came across some rather depressing books stats on Dan Poynter’s website this morning.

Who is Reading Books (and who is not)

One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. Many do not even graduate from high school.

58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.

42% of college graduates never read another book.

80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.

70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.

57% of new books are not read to completion.

And then this afternoon the chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates, testified before the Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee about the need to improve education and immigration procedures if the United States is to remain competitive in a global economy. Gates cited figures that show the U.S. has a low rate of high school graduation relative to many other countries. To make America more competitive, he urged Congress to begin by setting a goal to have every U.S. child graduate from high school, and to double the number of science, math and technology graduates by 2015.

So come on people, turn off the TV and get thee and thy children down to the nearest bookstore, pronto! Okay, bookbabie is climbing down off her soapbox now and going to read The History of Love, so far she is loving the first person voice of the main character, Leo Gursky.

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” Margaret Fuller