I like numbers. Statistics. Fast facts. Weird bits of information to amuse my friends with.
But one single stat has stuck in my mind for years, one particular number – 3,000.
That’s the average number of books a person can read in her lifetime, according to some article I read years and years ago.
How utterly depressing.
3,000 books? That’s all I’m going to get around to in (hopefully) 70-some years on this earth? That’s all I can ever read?
It makes me want to cry.
Because I could go into any Barnes & Noble right now and pick out at least 100 books I’d like to read. Probably more, depending on the size of the store. Libraries, used book stores, yard sales. All have even more terrific books just waiting to be discovered.
But reality says that I’m not going to get around to all those cool Kim Harrisons. The gritty Richard Starks. The funny Terry Pratchetts. The action-packed Lee Childs. And all the other great authors I’ve yet to discover.
Yep, I’m definitely depressed now. Pass me the chocolate.
I stumbled across the 3,000 stat way, way back in high school. As a result, I decided to start keeping track of all the books I read – just to see if I could come close to or even beat the 3,000 benchmark.
Flash forward to 2007. My tiny little list has swelled to just over 800 books read. Those first few book titles, scratched out on notebook paper, have been typed into my computer database, complete with author’s name, my rating, year published, and year read. Among my recent reads are Dark Lover by J.R. Ward and Demon Angel by Meljean Brook. (Good books, by the way).
Of course, my 800 number is probably much higher, considering all the Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew and Babysitters Club and Ramona Quimby books I read when I was a kid. Let’s say I’ve really read 1,000 books, and that I’ve lived about a third of my life.
You do the math. Okay, let me. I’m right on track to make 3,000 – but not beat it.
Recently, I tried (in vain) to find that first article or even another one that mentions the magic 3,000 number. Another story put the number much, much lower – at 1,950 hardcover books. Other articles and sites on the Web estimate that most people only read one book a year and probably won’t even crack 100 in their lifetime.
One book a year?!? I feel faint. Pass me some more chocolate. Followed by a gallon of ice cream.
I can’t imagine only reading one book a year. Can’t comprehend it. Can’t wrap my mind around that fact. Because books are treasures. Adventure and romance and laughter and tears all wrapped up and bound together in a nice, tidy package.
So, enjoy every single book you read, even the ones that aren’t necessarily your favorites. Find something to take away from them
Because whether you read 300 in your lifetime or 3,000, they all count – and they all feed your soul in some small way.
What about you? Do you keep track of all the books you read? Think you’ll hit the 3,000 mark? Blow right by it? Inquiring minds want to know …
I’ve recently started working at a library. Library staff’s library record show the number of books we’ve borrowed since we’ve become library members. Since 1996 I’ve borrowed something like 2200 books.So between years 30 - 41 that’s just the tally of books from my current library. An 18 year old co-worker has read about 1500 on her record and that’s only in the last 5 years. There may be the odd cookbook not read cover to cover in my library stat. However the majority have been novels.
I’ve been reading since I was four, I’ve been buying books since I’ve been able to earn pocket money. I feel like I’ve been studying forever.So that’s a whole lot of books. I’m pretty certain that 3000 was run over a while ago.I will read just about every genre known… so that probably helps too. I love seeing where authors will take characters, love the plots I can see a mile away, love the ones that keep me guessing.
I agree with Jennifer they all feed your soul in some way. Some books I have read I stand in awe of some, some are mind candy. Um understatement… love reading..lol.
by Catherine April 28th, 2007 at 6:32 amCatherine
I started keeping a list of books I have read about 7 years ago when I was 25. I haven’t gone back and counted the entire list, but I think I average about 100 books a year. I like to read over the list every now and then because I list books in the order that I finish them and it’s kind of like a diary as I can look at an entry and remember what was going on when I was reading that particular book. I haven’t read as much this year because I’ve been on a nonfiction kick and those big history books and biographies take longer to get through. Just as a side note- I used to hate history class back in school, but reading historical romances got me into it later in life. I can’t imagine reading only one book a year. I also work in a library and the other day one of my co-workers and I were discussing people who never read. I think nonreaders see someone reading and think “They are just sitting there! What’s the appeal?”. A lot of people also say they are too busy and all that. I think the only time in my life I wouldn’t read a lot would be if I had an infant who need constant attention or something like that.
by Sam April 28th, 2007 at 7:19 amI don’t keep track - because reading is not a race qualified by numbers.
by Bernita April 28th, 2007 at 7:49 amI would guess I surpassed that 3,000 mark long ago.
3000 in a lifetime? I’m sure Harriet Klausner manages that in a week.
I don’t keep track, but I think it will be more than 3000, because those are the ones I own, and I have read more.
by Gabriele April 28th, 2007 at 9:50 amAs low as 3000 sounds, it’s a pretty hefty number of books. I keep a database of the books I own, and the number is around 1500. I have books all over my house and the shelves are swelling. I have boxes of books on the floor because I’m out of room. I want to read them all, but I know I don’t have the time - especially when you think about new authors and new books coming out all the time. I’ll never catch up.
Actually that sounds like the best problem a person could have… too many books to read. =o)
by B.E. Sanderson April 28th, 2007 at 9:51 amWow! You guys are so much more impressive than me. I try to get through 50 books a year, but sadly, I am far from my goal at this point. (Ducks head in shame).
Catherine — I think working in a library would be my dream job. Being surrounded by all those lovely books all day long … sigh … what a great job!
Sam — I have my book list in alphabetical order, but I really like they way you do it too. Some books resonate more with us depending on where we are in life when we read them.
Bernita — No, it’s not a race. But I still like to keep track of what I’ve read. Then again, I’m just anal that way.
by Jennifer Estep April 28th, 2007 at 9:56 am3000 must be an average, taking into account the whole range, from those of us who read 300 a year to those who wouldn’t pick up a book if you held a gun to their head. I know for a fact I buy 300 a year (I make a point of it), and they somehow all manage to get read, so I’m already well past 3K.
On the other hand, I’m never going to make 1950 hardcovers. I don’t do the library thing and rarely buy hardcovers, so I’ll NEVER hit that number.
As for those people who see someone reading and think “They’re just sitting there, what’s the appeal?” - Are those the same people who sit in front of the TV all evening?
A book is a much better use of my time and gray matter, thank you very much.
As for lists, mine is a necessity. If I already have it “in stock,” I don’t want to waste my book budget on a duplicate, and if I hated a particular book, I REALLY don’t want to duplicate it.
by Kerry Allen April 28th, 2007 at 11:37 amHmm, I’ve read 42 books just this year alone. If I keep up that pace I’m going to almost hit 200 but let’s say I don’t and we go with 150. Thinking back to how much I’ve read in the past I’m guessing I’m sitting at almost 2000 books read, at least. I suspect that I will surpass 3000 but you never know, I may decide to read less.:shock: I doubt it but it could happen.
by Michelle April 28th, 2007 at 11:42 amI think Kerry’s right.
Because the sad fact is that people like me who can and do read over 200 books a year is a relative minority compared to those who either don’t read at all or read one book a year.
by May K April 28th, 2007 at 11:49 amI think that statistic is a bit off, for the voracious readers among us, anyway. I multiplied my age (40) by 52 (1 book per week) and came out with 2080. Yes, I realize I wasn’t reading when I was 2, but considering I average 2-4 books a week now, and can clearly recall blasting through 42 books during one summer vacation when our TV was broken for six weeks, I figure that 2080 is a conservative estimate for what I’ve read. If you love to read, 3,000 is child’s play. It’s sad, that statistic that “most” people only read one book a year. Think what they’re missing!
by Elizabeth K April 28th, 2007 at 11:50 amI don’t keep track, but I’m sure I’m waaay over 3000. Just all the Nora Roberts book I’ve read probably put me over a hundred.
And then there are the Jayne Ann Krentz books, Robert Parker, Dick Francis, Christina Dodd … My list can go on (it includes Nancy Drew too). So, yep, way over.
by Edie Ramer April 28th, 2007 at 11:50 amOkay, now I feel really, really ashamed of my puny little 800+ list.
I try to get through one book a week, but I haven’t even been able to keep up with that these last few weeks.
Would it be wrong of me to go to RWA, get that bag of free books, and lock myself in the room for the rest of the conference so I could catch up on my reading?
Since you guys have read so many books, I have to ask — what’s the best book you’ve read this year?
I’d have to go with “Dark Lover” by J.R. Ward at this point. Really enjoyed that one.
by Jennifer Estep April 28th, 2007 at 12:09 pmNot at all Jennifer. And happy release day!
For me, it’d have to be Lynn Viehl’s Night Lost currently ties with Megan Hart’s Dirty.
by May K April 28th, 2007 at 12:13 pmThanks, May K. I appreciate the well wishes.
I haven’t heard of “Night Lost,” but I read some reviews of “Dirty.” I’ll definitely put them on my “this looks interesting” list.
So many books, so little time …
by Jennifer Estep April 28th, 2007 at 1:19 pmI think you have to take into account what kind of books you are reading. I always went for the longest, thickest books that take quite a while to read. Lately I have been reading some of the shorter books. Either way though I have a tbr pile that I’ve decided I would have to live to 200 to finish and that’s not counting the new books I will still buy lol.
by jeanne April 28th, 2007 at 2:02 pmUnfortunately, there are many people who don’t even read a book a year! I’m always hearing people brag, “I’ve never read a book in my life!” and it makes me incredibly sad since they don’t know what they’re missing. Reading has always been my biggest joy, and I can’t see that changing. I’m sure I’m way over the 3,000 mark, and I’m going for the record!
by Karen W. April 28th, 2007 at 3:25 pmI average about a book a day
(no, I’m not 10 years old…)
and considering I read out an entire library once
(every single book),
I’m way over the 3,000 book mark.
If I could remember everything I read,
now, that would be impressive.
Don’t have much of a memory.
Like most everything in life,
by Kimber Chin April 28th, 2007 at 3:57 pmit ain’t about the quantity.
I personally think that’s a crock. It all depends on how fast the person reads. I read so fast that I can get thru up to 6 books in a day if I’m not doing anything else. I know I’ve read thousands of books.
I dunno why they’d say that. Maybe they figure an average person or something, but that seems like a very tiny number.
by Kaitlin April 28th, 2007 at 4:16 pmAs for best book this year….it’s a toss-up between oh about 8 books. The latest Nalini Singh, For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison, I just started reading Marjorie M. Liu….it’s always hard for me to pick favorite books. It’s easier to say the worst, but I never do because I don’t to piss someone off. LOL!
by Kaitlin April 28th, 2007 at 4:22 pmBeing a listmaker myself, I wholly understand the need to keep track of important things such as birthdays, milestones passed and books read. To me, a list orders my day, helps me get through a week or strive toward a goal. But books are magic to me. Full of worlds I am powerless to experience any other way. I guess I can’t bring myself to relegate such spellbinding enchantment to something that is so normal in my daily “living-in” world. My stubborn refusal to list this part of my life keeps the journey spontaneous for me - something I need. But it also explains why I’ve bought the same book a time or two. Or three.:lol:
by Eve Jameson April 28th, 2007 at 6:12 pmI currently have about 12 books in my TBR pile. I’ve decided to read all of those before I buy or get any more from the library.
It makes me sad too that some people are proud that they don’t read. They really don’t know what they’re missing.
I’m looking forward to the Kim Harrison book. I like that series a lot. And I need to read the last two Jim Butchers so I know what’s going on in his new one.
by Jennifer Estep April 28th, 2007 at 6:26 pmSam, I had to laugh about the child needing constant attention thing. While I fully subscribe to the warm and fuzzies with feeding my children, I found sitting still to feed initially drove me nuts… until I turned it into more time I could read in. That’s when I discovered Jayne Ann Krentz and all her selves and many others, Kay Hooper, Tami Hoag (about 20 years ago, I was a baby bride). At the time the library just did not have enough for me so I scoured second book stores too.I guess as an addiction reading is at least socially acceptable.
I find that because I truly love reading, helping people out at the Library is a real kick.I love coming across new authors to enjoy and then share too.My quads are getting a great workout as I shelve.For the most part I enjoy every aspect of Library work, and find that shelving can get a little zenlike ala wax on wax off but with mutterings of the alphabet mixed in.
Before I started working at the library, as patron I would put in request for purchase for lots of my favourite authors.I had to become a little controlled after being asked to slow it down a tad from the central library…lol.I think what tipped the balance was when I asked for about 6 Laurell K Hamilton that were missing from the library collection with all the ISBN and publisher details. On the plus side I did develop a good contact that helped me get work at the Library.
Out of the best books I’ve read this year I’d put Robert Crais’s, ‘Watchman’ in pole position. I’m re-reading Jim Butcher’s, Dresden Files series to catch up to the new one, and love Charlaine Harris’s new series about Harper Connelly. Also a good Australian author is Kerry Greenwood whose mystery series about a highly stylish 1920s female detective, Phryrne Fisher is on my re-read list.
by Catherine April 28th, 2007 at 8:56 pmWell, think of it this way: if the average is 3,000, but most people only read one book a year (so about 70), then there are others who are reading many, many more than that to tilt the scales. Right?
by Robbie April 28th, 2007 at 10:48 pmWell, there’s a certain UK footballer’s wife who’s bragged she’s never read a book in her life, so I’m thinking I can bag her 3000 allocation!
by Tricia Jones April 29th, 2007 at 10:53 amI couldn’t read at all for a couple of years when my short term memory got fried, but before that I was one of the people who took out my maximum 10 books from the library *every* week, and occasionally went in for a top-up in between…
by Jules Jones April 29th, 2007 at 11:11 amI am happy to report that I personally have helped two people who only read one book in their lifetimes to meet the average…
by Catja (green_knight) April 29th, 2007 at 11:38 amThere was a programme last week that gave stats on various things for the UK.
by Marianne McA April 29th, 2007 at 5:21 pmThe average number of books read in a lifetime (I think the average lifetime was 78-ish years) was 533.
“3% can’t read in the U.K., 40% choose not to read, more households own two cars than two novels.”
Kaitlin,
I second your vote for Nalini Singh’s latest as one of the best of 2007. Visions of Heat was my first ever Nalini Singh read (won the ARC) and wowsers, that’s some good writing. Now I get to read her backlist.
Waiting for Margaret Moore’s release in June (The Notorious Knight) about my boy Bayard (met him in the last novel and hubba, hubba). Just in time for beach reading.
by Kimber Chin April 29th, 2007 at 6:19 pm40 percent choose not to read … another sad statistic. When are people going to realize how much FUN it is to read?
I’ve heard good things about Nalini Singh’s books too. Another author on my to-be-read list …
by Jennifer Estep April 29th, 2007 at 7:24 pmI’m thrilled that I’m not the only one who keeps a reading list. I limit it to fiction, and just list the author, title, and date I finished reading it. I’ve been keeping this list since the 7th grade–a looong time ago. No clue how many books I’ve read in total, since the vast numbers of non-fiction titles that I’ve consumed aren’t even listed. But at my peak, I know I read 250 novels a year. Once I got into publishing and began reading unpublished novels (manuscripts), that number went much, much higher.
As to the one book a year, the statistic I have always heard was that the average American does _not_ even read one book a year. But do not despair. Plenty of well-educated, interesting, cultured people get lots and lots of reading done, via newspapers, magazines (good ones, not just shopping zines), newsletters, and professional journals. Others get information via radio and TV. And as we all know, most younger people get vast amounts of information via the Internet. Yes, these non-novel-readers are missing out on an artistic experience. But some of the non-novel-reading people I know comprehend and enjoy symphonies or other art forms that simply fly over my head. So it’s not as if they are dead to drama or art. They simply choose different forms.
As for people who brag that they don’t read books–well, that’s pretty high school, isn’t it? There’s an expression for that: a cock crowing on a dunghill.
by Poison Ivy April 29th, 2007 at 10:11 pmI believe I will read OVER 3,000. In three years, I’ve already gone over 800 - and that includes E books.
by Michele May 1st, 2007 at 1:21 pmUnless I kick the bucket… within 10 years, I’ll have blown that number 3,000 away.
I’ve been keeping a list (on-line even!) since 1995. I read about 50 books/year on average (some years much less, some much more, it depends on things like do I drive to work or take the train, am I in grad school, did I just foolishly buy a video game, etc.) On that basis. 3000 books is 60 years. I think I can probably crack 3000. Given that my list started a few years out of my undergrad years, it wouldn’t surprise me if I already have cracked 3000. I’ve set up the link on my name to my list for the curious.
by Don Hosek May 8th, 2007 at 6:34 pmI think whoever wrote that article must not have been a reader’s reader.
I did some math after reading your post. I read, on average, a book every other day, and have been for the past 25 years. That’s over 4500 already. I figure that by the time I stop I may have passed 10,000.
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