Many people, especially in physically demanding jobs, which often coincide with low education, simply never got into books. They are simply not in their radar as a form of education or entertainment.
Which is kind of understandable. If day job and daily life already fill your time completely, you may just want to be numb in front of a TV.
Also, don’t forget that many younger people don’t read books that much, simply because they consume different media.
And a final note: look at what the bestselling books are. Cheap romance, crime and thriller crap. Reading those is intellectually nil. You might as well watch the daily soap opera.
That’s true but (at least here in Sweden and among my friends and classmates) I think most people read at least occasionally. Personally, however I’m in the +10 category by a long shot
Between 20-25% of the European population is functionally illiterate. In other words: at least one citizen in five does not have the reading and writing skills they need for functioning in society, with all its consequences for education, employment, health care, welfare, social integration and political participation. ‘More than 73 million adults in the EU… do not have sufficient literacy levels to cope with the daily requirements of personal, social, and economic life’
I could not find info on how they get to 20-25% functionally illiterate. That seems way too high. 17% for Germany.
Do you know how they define illiterate?
It can vary depending on the context, but essentially it just means that you can only read/write at a fairly basic level.
For instance, imagine someone who reads at a 4th grade reading level. They can get through basic aspects of life, but get totally lost/overwhelmed if they are presented with anything more complex. For instance, they wouldn’t be able to comprehend most official letters. (Thus is especially an issue in Germany since Amtsdeutsch seemingly tries to be intentionally complex…)
They are effectively locked out of most modern jobs, because they can’t parse emails effectively or formulate a fitting reply.
It’s also something that people are generally very self-conscious about and get pretty good at hiding.
Interesting, thanks for clearing that up. Wouldn’t have thought that this is so common but then again I’m living in a bubble where I mostly know well educated people.
“Functionally Illiterate” doesn’t mean that those people can’t read or write. But it does mean that they don’t understand what the words even mean.
Or in other words. Just because you know how to do something doesn’t mean that you understand how it works. Lots of people drive cars or use computers but many of them have no real understanding on how they actually work.
“who have read books”
Not even a quantity, but just “books”. That means that an european average of nearly half the people do not read a single book in a year?
This is so foreign to me, I have trouble to comprehend.
Many people, especially in physically demanding jobs, which often coincide with low education, simply never got into books. They are simply not in their radar as a form of education or entertainment.
Which is kind of understandable. If day job and daily life already fill your time completely, you may just want to be numb in front of a TV.
Also, don’t forget that many younger people don’t read books that much, simply because they consume different media.
And a final note: look at what the bestselling books are. Cheap romance, crime and thriller crap. Reading those is intellectually nil. You might as well watch the daily soap opera.
Good point.
That’s true but (at least here in Sweden and among my friends and classmates) I think most people read at least occasionally. Personally, however I’m in the +10 category by a long shot
I’m in the US, it’s crazy how many people don’t read books.
More don’t read, than do. I’m my opinion.
It is even worse:
https://blogs.fasos.maastrichtuniversity.nl/EUS2516/lowliteracyineurope/
So they are not just not reading any books, they literally can’t read books.
I could not find info on how they get to 20-25% functionally illiterate. That seems way too high. 17% for Germany. Do you know how they define illiterate?
It can vary depending on the context, but essentially it just means that you can only read/write at a fairly basic level.
For instance, imagine someone who reads at a 4th grade reading level. They can get through basic aspects of life, but get totally lost/overwhelmed if they are presented with anything more complex. For instance, they wouldn’t be able to comprehend most official letters. (Thus is especially an issue in Germany since Amtsdeutsch seemingly tries to be intentionally complex…)
They are effectively locked out of most modern jobs, because they can’t parse emails effectively or formulate a fitting reply.
It’s also something that people are generally very self-conscious about and get pretty good at hiding.
Interesting, thanks for clearing that up. Wouldn’t have thought that this is so common but then again I’m living in a bubble where I mostly know well educated people.
“Functionally Illiterate” doesn’t mean that those people can’t read or write. But it does mean that they don’t understand what the words even mean.
Or in other words. Just because you know how to do something doesn’t mean that you understand how it works. Lots of people drive cars or use computers but many of them have no real understanding on how they actually work.