Reading is a cultural activity valued by most
members of society though not practised by all
despite the real and perceived benefits; cognitive,
social and pyschological. To read or not to read is
a unique study, exploring how reading habits
develop; factors affecting this development and why
some adults choose to read for leisure or not. It
draws from various disciplines: psychology,
sociology, market research, education, literacy
studies, and biographies/autobiographies; and
empirical evidence. It contains a detailed
ethnographic study, extensive individual quotes, and
an analysis of reading habits, including reading
values and outcomes, and choice and acquisition of
reading materials. The book illustrates ways in
which reading constructs and habits are shaped by an
individual s environment and suggests that by
adolescence an individual s reading construct has
become a core construct, affecting perception of
reading behaviour and skills. This book will be of
interest to anyone involved with reading,
particularly educationalists, parents, psychologists
and those working in the field of literacy studies.
members of society though not practised by all
despite the real and perceived benefits; cognitive,
social and pyschological. To read or not to read is
a unique study, exploring how reading habits
develop; factors affecting this development and why
some adults choose to read for leisure or not. It
draws from various disciplines: psychology,
sociology, market research, education, literacy
studies, and biographies/autobiographies; and
empirical evidence. It contains a detailed
ethnographic study, extensive individual quotes, and
an analysis of reading habits, including reading
values and outcomes, and choice and acquisition of
reading materials. The book illustrates ways in
which reading constructs and habits are shaped by an
individual s environment and suggests that by
adolescence an individual s reading construct has
become a core construct, affecting perception of
reading behaviour and skills. This book will be of
interest to anyone involved with reading,
particularly educationalists, parents, psychologists
and those working in the field of literacy studies.