Gen Z can in fact read, and they’re reading more than four years ago. A recent study by Cambridge University Press found that 66% of Gen Z consider themselves readers, up +14pts from 2022—and 65% said they read at least one print book in the last year, up from 59% in 2022. The number of Gen Z who went to bookstores and libraries went up as well, and many who went to bookstores purchased physical books, showing a shift away from only digital versions. The American Booksellers Association also reports independent booksellers across the U.S. have boomed, with a 70% increase from 2020 to 2025. A Harvard professor says that part of the appeal of bookshops is being in a community space: “They want to feel like they’re part of something, a part of the social fabric of their community or their organization.” Gen Z also has an interesting emotional tie to going to libraries; those who visited libraries reported less loneliness compared to those who didn’t. (People)
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