Forget looks and status. 85% of Americans find reading attractive.
A stack of paperbacks rests on the nightstand, their spines uncracked. A bookmark is tucked neatly inside the front cover of the top book, peeking out just enough to signal good intentions.
Tonight is the night to start reading. But tonight turns into tomorrow, then next week. The books stay put, quietly waiting.
That familiar moment captures a larger truth about reading today. Many Americans want to read more and continue to admire those who do, even as they look for realistic ways to make reading part of everyday life. According to new research from ThriftBooks, the largest independent online bookseller of new and used books, most U.S. adults say reading is an attractive trait in a person, even as many struggle to make it a regular habit themselves. The survey helps explain why that admiration does not always translate into action and what makes it easier to finally turn the page.
Reading is admired. The habit is harder to keep.
Reading remains closely tied to how people see themselves and others. It is associated with curiosity, intelligence and thoughtfulness, qualities many Americans continue to admire.
While reading is widely valued, habits vary. Seventeen percent of respondents say they cannot remember the last time they read a book, and 39% describe themselves as occasional readers.
The takeaway is not a lack of interest, but inconsistency. For many Americans, books reflect an ideal they still care about, even if reading does not yet show up regularly in their day-to-day lives.
Why page one is the hardest
When Americans do read, they tend to enjoy it. The struggle comes before the first page is turned.
More than half of respondents (57%) say the hardest part of reading is simply getting started. Distractions like smartphones, streaming platforms and constant notifications are the biggest barrier for 34% of adults, while 28% say they lack the time to read.
The problem is not wanting to read. It is getting the book open.
Reading feels harder than it really is
For many adults, reading is still associated with long, uninterrupted stretches of time, which are in short supply. That attitude can stop people from opening a book at all.
The survey suggests those expectations may be misplaced. Eighty-seven percent of respondents say reading three or more pages per day feels realistic. More than half (51%) say setting aside time during the day would help them read more, and 42% say finding something interesting to read would make a difference.
Once people start, momentum builds
Once readers get past page one, their own habits often surprise them.
More than half of respondents (54%) say they often or always read longer than they planned. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say that once they start a book, they feel compelled to finish it. Still, 57% believe it’s okay not to finish a book as long as they keep reading.
These findings suggest that progress matters more than perfection. Many readers exceed their own expectations once they get past page one.
Unfinished books feel personal
Reading isn’t just entertainment. It carries emotional weight, especially when people stop partway through.
Thirty-five percent of respondents say they feel disappointed when they don’t finish a book. Another 30% say they feel unfulfilled, while 24% say they feel frustrated. Together, these reactions suggest that reading success is tied to confidence and self-perception, not just leisure.
For some, the unread book on the nightstand becomes a quiet reminder of an intention left unfulfilled.
Small goals rebuild confidence
Not all readers aim to sit for hours reading chapter after chapter. In fact, 28% of respondents identify as consistent readers who read just a few pages per day.
Certain genres also lend themselves to shorter, more flexible reading sessions. More than half (51%) say they are most likely to read a few pages each day if the book is a mystery or suspense title. Action and thrillers, cited by 43%, and history books, cited by 37%, also fit more easily into shorter reading windows.
These genres tend to align with fragmented schedules, helping readers return regularly even when time is limited.
Why this matters now
Reading is being redefined not as a grand commitment, but as a flexible habit that adapts to real life.
For many Americans, the path back to reading is not more motivation or more free time. It is a smaller starting point. A few pages. A short chapter. One quiet moment before sleep.
That book on the nightstand does not need a perfect evening to be opened. For many readers, starting small is often enough to build momentum.
Methodology
ThriftBooks commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of adults in the United States. The sample included 2,006 adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
Fieldwork was conducted between Dec. 12 and Dec. 15, 2025. Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is a creative market research agency.
This story was produced by ThriftBooks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
