COVID-19 Crisis is Changing Reading Behavior in U.S.
Photo by Cindy Fazzi, May 2020
COVID-19’s far-reaching impact on our lives extends to our reading habits. The pandemic has caused bankruptcies, job losses, and varying degrees of lockdown in most states, and it’s also changing our reading preferences and behavior.
BookBub, a book discovery platform, identified some of the ways our reading habits are shifting due to the pandemic:
Print vs. Online Sales: As can be expected during a lockdown, print sales of books are down, but online sales are up. Independent bookstores’ online sales are getting a boost from Bookshop.org, an online retailer that gives a percentage of its sales to local book shops.
E-book and Audio Sales: Digital sales of both e-books and audio books increased ever since the “stay at home” order in most states began. Engagement from BookBub members for e-books (email opens and clicks) have also risen.
Other Trends
Children’s Books: School closures have compelled many parents to home-school their children. No wonder there’s been a jump in sales of children’s books, especially nonfiction books related to learning.
“To Be Read” List: With the lockdown, many adult readers are finally tackling the books they have been wanting to read, especially classics.
“Feel Good” Books: Many readers are finding comfort in lighthearted, inspiring, and other feel-good books, according to BookBub.
Even as reading trends and habits are shifting, one thing is certain—many people continue to find solace in books.
Read the full article on BookBub:
How Reader Behavior is Changing During the COVID-19 Crisis
Read another article about reading habits of Americans:
NEA Study Shows Americans Read After All