The subject heading of this thread pretty much says it all. Statistics vary depending on what segments of the population are being studied. And the book publishing industry is still turning a tidy profit. But the simple fact remains: in any given year, most people read few if any books.
Why do you suppose that is? A number of factors could be at least partially to blame. So try to come up with at least 3 possible explanations.
What can book publishers do to help overcome the challenges you've identified and get people back in the reading habit?
One segment of the book publishing industry that never suffers a down-turn is the realm of celebrity biographies and autobiographies. Anyone who's spent time in the public spotlight- from prominent politicians to reality show contestants- seems to have a little trouble climbing the non-fiction best-seller list with tales of their exploits.
If you've ever read a book written by or about a celebrity, tell the class about it. What drew you to it? What parts of the reading experience were good? What parts were less than rewarding?
If you haven't actually read one, then take a look at a current non-fiction best-seller list. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and The New York Times all have prominent lists that should be easy to find on the web. Pick one book from the list that you think sounds interesting. Explain your attraction to it. Then find a book from the same list that you'd never read in a million years. Again explain why,