Four Books a Year: Where Do You Fall on America’s Reading Scale?

I like trivia. Not the kind where you memorize who won the 1948 World Series or which bird can fly backward (for the record, it’s the hummingbird). I mean trivia revealing something about us, how we live, and what it says about our habits. The kind sneaking into a conversation and makes someone tilt their head, smile, and say, “Really?”

Here’s a fun one for you: the average American reads about 12 books per year. That sounds impressive at first—one a month! You can almost picture folks carrying hardcovers on the subway or curling up every evening with a paperback. But here’s where trivia gives us a twist. The median number of books read is only four. Which means half of all Americans are reading fewer than four books a year.

So how does the average end up so high? It’s because of a small group of readers who fly through books like most of us go through bags of popcorn. Their numbers pull the average upward. Without them, America’s bookish profile would look a lot thinner.

Reading isn’t always steady—it bends with the seasons of our lives. A busy job, raising kids, or even just the lure of binge-watching a new series can nudge books down the list. Then suddenly, a summer trip or a snowy winter pulls them right back.

The trivia becomes even more fun when you think of it as a scale. If you’re reading more than four books a year, congratulations—you’re already ahead of half the country. Cross into the twelve-book zone, and you’ve joined the “super readers,” the folks carrying the national average on their shoulders. Push past that, and you’re officially in the realm of bookworms, the kind librarians secretly cheer for.

I find it comforting to know that no matter where we fall on the scale, reading still has a hold on us. Even if someone picks up just one book in a year, it’s one story added to their life. Maybe it’s To Kill a Mockingbird, maybe it’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or maybe it’s a slim memoir tucked into the corner of a library display. That one book might be the spark for more.

There’s another angle too—what counts as reading today? Many Americans listen to audiobooks while commuting or tackling household chores. Some spend hours on e-readers, swiping instead of flipping. Others dive into graphic novels, poetry collections, or short story anthologies. All of it counts. The median doesn’t tell us about variety, only volume.

The trivia also shines a light on the power of a small group. Those voracious readers—maybe you’re one of them—change the landscape. Without their hunger for stories, our national reading picture would look starkly different. In a way, it’s a reminder that small groups often shape the whole.

So, here’s my challenge to you: take a quick tally of your year. How many books have you read so far? More than four? You’re ahead of the curve. Close to twelve? You’re carrying the team. Beyond twelve? You’re one of the anchors of America’s reading culture. And if you’re under four, no shame—every book matters. Just think of the fun in nudging that number upward.

Trivia isn’t just about random facts. Sometimes it’s about perspective. The numbers remind us that stories still matter, and that readers like you keep them alive. Next time someone says Americans don’t read much anymore, you’ll have a playful answer ready: “Well, the average is twelve, but the real story is four.” Then you can smile, because you know the trivia behind the trivia.

That’s the heartbeat of my new book, The Power of Authors: A Rallying Cry for Today’s Writers to Recognize Their Power, Rise to Their Calling, and Write with Moral Conviction, written with Lois Swensen and a foreword by Jane L. Evanson, PhD. It launches this September. You’ve been reading its heartbeat in these messages—soon you’ll be able to hold the book in your hands.

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