{"id":298755,"date":"2026-04-09T09:50:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=298755"},"modified":"2026-04-09T09:50:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:50:50","slug":"americans-still-opt-for-print-books-over-digital-or-audio-versions-few-are-in-book-clubs","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/04\/09\/americans-still-opt-for-print-books-over-digital-or-audio-versions-few-are-in-book-clubs\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The
The Boston Public Library in Massachusetts. (Plexi Images\/GHI\/UCG\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Digital books have grown in popularity over the past decade, but more Americans still read books in print than in digital formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, 75% of U.S. adults say they have read all or part of at least one book in the past 12 months, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025. While book reading is widespread, the survey also shows that participation in book clubs is much less common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans\u2019 book reading habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. This research builds on our work on book reading in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 8,046 U.S. adults from Oct. 6 to 16, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel or SSRS\u2019 Opinion Panel. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the questions used for this analysis<\/a>, the topline<\/a> and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Print books remain on top<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Print books still dominate in the U.S., but use of e-books and audiobooks has grown over the past decade<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
% of U.S. adults who say they have __ in the past 12 months<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"Chart\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Note: Dashed lines indicate a change in survey mode. We conducted the poll via phone from 2011 to 2021, and via web and phone in 2025. Those who did not answer or said that they did not read any books either all or part of the way through in the past 12 months are not shown.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 6-16, 2025.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t