We're in a post-literate society where most adults can't even finish 1 book a year. The fact that kindles are still a thing is kind of shocking.
Books are arguably selling better than ever. It's just becoming a hobby people participate in as part of a larger community instead of a universal activity. Breakout successes tend to be things that appeal to women active on social media, a group that has very little overlap with the typical HN audience.
>women active on social media, a group that has very little overlap with the typical HN audience
I've long wondered what the percentage of HN users/readers who are women is but it's impossible to know. For every self-described female here, most remain under the radar.
Unfortunately it's not just online. I meet people regularly who no longer read and some who never started. They're missing out. The book exercises the mind in a way that television doesn't.
But more relevant is that if ~20% of adults are reading 10+ books a year, then there's absolutely still a market for eReaders. (Whether or not kindles deserve that market I'll leave for others to argue :)
March_f6 · · focus · HN ↗
AlotOfReading · · focus · HN ↗
bookofjoe · · focus · HN ↗
I've long wondered what the percentage of HN users/readers who are women is but it's impossible to know. For every self-described female here, most remain under the radar.
toymin · · focus · HN ↗
cindyllm · · focus · HN ↗
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crysin · · focus · HN ↗
nephihaha · · focus · HN ↗
epihelix · · focus · HN ↗
<a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/53804-most-americans-didnt-read-many-books-in-2025" rel="nofollow">https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/53804-most-americans-didnt...
This literally isn't true :)
But more relevant is that if ~20% of adults are reading 10+ books a year, then there's absolutely still a market for eReaders. (Whether or not kindles deserve that market I'll leave for others to argue :)