Do Americans read print books, e-books or audiobooks more?

Americans Still Prefer Print Books Over Digital or Audio Versions, Pew Research Finds

In an era dominated by screens and streaming, Americans remain steadfast in their love for traditional print books, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025. Despite the rise of e-books and audiobooks over the past decade, print books continue to reign supreme, with two-thirds of U.S. adults reporting they’ve read a physical book in the past year.

Key Findings:

• 75% of U.S. adults have read all or part of at least one book in the past 12 months.
• 64% prefer print books, while 31% have read an e-book and 26% have listened to an audiobook in the same period.
• Book clubs remain niche, with only 7% of adults participating in one over the past year.

A Decade of Change:

While the overall share of Americans reading books has remained stable since 2011, the way people consume literature has shifted. Print book readership has declined from 72% in 2011 to 64% in 2025, while e-book and audiobook usage has grown. E-book readership has nearly doubled, rising from 17% to 31%, and audiobook use has more than doubled, from 11% to 26%.

However, the pace of change has slowed in recent years, with little variation in reading habits since 2021.

Who’s Reading and How:

• College graduates are more likely to read books, with 88% reporting they’ve read a book in the past year, compared to 60% of those with a high school education or less.
• Younger adults (18-29) are more likely to embrace digital formats, with 41% reading e-books compared to 23% of those 65 and older.
• Women are more likely than men to read books, with 78% of women reporting they’ve read a book in the past year compared to 71% of men.
• White adults are the most likely to read print books (67%), while Asian Americans lead in e-book usage (42%).

Book Clubs: A Rare Affair:

Despite the popularity of books, book clubs are not a widespread activity. Only 7% of adults have participated in a book club in the past year, with women (10%) more likely than men (5%) to join.

How Many Books Do Americans Read?

Reading habits vary widely:

• 38% read 1-5 books per year.
• 13% read 6-10 books.
• 10% read 11-20 books.
• 14% read more than 20 books.
• 25% read none.

Conclusion:

While digital and audio formats are gaining traction, print books remain the preferred choice for most Americans. The survey highlights a nation still deeply connected to the tactile experience of reading, even as technology continues to reshape how we consume content.

Tags: #BookReading #PrintBooks #Ebooks #Audiobooks #PewResearch #ReadingHabits #BookClubs #DigitalTransformation #ReadingTrends #BookLovers

Viral Sentences:

• “Print books still dominate in the U.S., but e-books and audiobooks are catching up!”
• “College grads read more books—88% have read at least one in the past year!”
• “Women are twice as likely as men to join a book club!”
• “Younger adults are leading the charge in e-book and audiobook adoption!”
• “25% of Americans didn’t read a single book last year—are you one of them?”

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