America’s Reading Habits Have Changed in Response to the Pandemic

There has, undoubtedly, been innumerable changes for people around the globe during the past six months, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Every one of us is struggling to cope with all these sudden life changes that are affecting the way the entire world works.

Some of these changes, such as the way we attend school and order food are bound to go back to normal. However, have you taken the time to consider that some of these changes could end up becoming permanent?

One sector that has experienced an extraordinary shift is the way we read and buy books. During the past several months, there has been a dramatic shift in both the amount of time we spend reading and the content that we are reading. This comes as no surprise considering the significant lifestyle changes that we have had to make.

Let us take a brief moment to look at how America's reading habits have changed during the pandemic.

Emerging Trends for Purchasing Books

The book business has experienced a significant boost despite big-box chains and bookstores being closed during the pandemic. Book purchases saw a massive spike of 777 percent at the beginning of April compared to the first two weeks of March.

The key beneficiaries of the book business are online stores and e-commerce book sites. However, several bookstores with an online sales option have also benefited from this emerging trend. Most people find online purchases extremely convenient and cost-saving during this pandemic.

What is America Reading?

Immediately after the pandemic hit, there was a significant surge in the sales of fictional work and children's books. During the initial stage, kid-themed activity books skyrocketed by a massive 40%. The juvenile books, on the other hand, saw an increase of up to 80% in sales.

Time America Spends Reading

The nationwide and statewide shutdowns had a massive impact on the time we spend reading. Most people found themselves with a lot of time on their hands. All the regular schedules were disrupted, which meant that people didn’t have to commute to school or work. The daily activities were also quite limited, which meant more time for reading books.

Books and Racial Equity

We are living in uncertain times with a lot of stress and racial tensions. In the wake of the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and the fast-approaching elections, it’s no surprise that books about racial equality are growing in popularity. Through books, we can educate the entire community on the realities of racism and how to deal with this issue.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes