READ

New research shows that Mexican adults read on average only about 3 books per year. This is very sad, considering that Mexico claims to have a 93% literacy rate. But it's not so unusual, when compared to the U.S.

The U.S. has a 99% literacy rate, but unfortunately 25% of American adults do not read books at all. Of those who do read books, the average was 5 per year for men and 9 per year for women.

Once the averages are better compared, American men don't seem to be reading much more than the average Mexican. Remember, also, that 50% of Mexicans have almost no discretionary income to purchase books and they Mexico does not have public libraries with free reading material that can be checked out. (Their libraries have mainly research and non-fiction books that can only be used within the library. There is no check-out process bc there is no guarantee the book would ever come back and no way to track down the book once it leaves bc so many Mexicans have no official address and there is no good way in Mexican law to demand payment for something after the fact.)

American women with a college education, otoh, seem to be big readers. Which explains why there are more female-slanted titles in Borders.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101045.html

http://thenews.com.mx/articulo/mexicans-read-few-books-a-year-10218