This summer, 80% of American readers plan to put away their cell phones to focus on reading, according to an independent survey of 1,500 reading adults commissioned by Barnes & Noble, which reported that among those "expressing the desire to make reading a priority, many have vowed not to look at their phones for between 30 minutes and two hours during each reading session."
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Conducted in early May by Atomik Research, the survey also showed that nearly 90% of parents with children between 6 and 17 years old plan to ask them not to use electronic devices during certain periods of time this summer. Of those, 44% said they want their kids to be device-free for more than three hours; 21% would be happy if their kids were off phones and videos for one to two hours a day.
"Parents have high hopes for themselves and their kids when it comes to reading habits this summer," said Tim Mantel, executive v-p and chief merchandising officer for B&N. "The desire to impose device-free time on themselves and their children was very strong among survey respondents, an indication of the importance of reading across generations."
The survey also found that 61% of parents said summer reading is very important to their families, while 70% said summer reading for their kids is just as important as reading during the school year. In addition, 69% of parents said their families read together during the summer, with 55% planning to read the same books as their children so they can have a bonding experience.
Of the readers surveyed, 38% hope to read one to three books this summer, while 37% hope to read four to six books. Among parents, 35% want their child/children to read four to six books this summer, 26% want them to read 10 or more books, and 25% want them to read one to three books.
In terms of genre breakdown, 48% plan to read mysteries, 37% history, 34% fantasy and 33% science fiction. Fifteen percent said they plan to join a book club this summer, with 7% saying they are already in a book club.
Among the respondents, 69% will most often read a print book, 24% a book on an electronic device, and 7% an audiobook. Of those reading or listening on a device, 34% will use an e-reader, 34% a cell phone and 32% a tablet.
When it comes to storytelling, the survey found that when a TV show or movie is based on a book, 77% of both summer readers and parents said the book is usually better than television show or movie.
"Even with the amazing technology in modern film-making and the broad variety of television programming, respondents still enjoy the reading experience more in terms of storytelling," Mantel said. "The idea of curling up with a good book never loses its appeal."