Title: Why people like to read | Pew Research Center
Headings: Why people like to read
Why people like to read
Content: 12% said they enjoyed relaxing while reading and having quiet time. 6% liked the variety of topics they could access via reading and how they could find books that particularly interested them. 4% said they enjoy finding spiritual enrichment through reading and expanding their worldview. 3% said they like being mentally challenged by books. 2% cited the physical properties of books – their feel and smell – as a primary pleasure. In their own words, respondents were eloquent and touching. One respondent noted: “ I am an English teacher, so I read to save my sanity from grading essays.” Those who talked about quiet entertainment tended toward phrases like “a stress-free escape,” “a nice way to relax,” “I read because it’s not work,” “diverting, entertaining and educational,” and “It draws me away from reality.” That was echoed by a respondent who said reading “takes you away, like a movie in your head.”