The Real State

Does Anyone Read Anymore? From Paperbacks to iPads, What We’ve Gained and Lost

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In this episode of The Real State, Alex and Jamie ask the question that feels more relevant than ever: Does anyone actually read anymore? From the joys of childhood encyclopedias and comic books to the digital reading habits of today, the duo takes a thoughtful (and hilarious) trip down literary memory lane. They discuss fiction vs. nonfiction, the decline of attention spans, the rise of audiobooks, and what the future of reading might look like in an era of TikTok, AI, and shrinking libraries.

Topics Covered:

  • Childhood memories of reading and early obsessions (World Book, comic books)
  • Fiction vs. nonfiction: What we read now and why
  • The decline of print and rise of digital reading habits (iPads, audiobooks)
  • The status symbol of bookshelves (and Zoom backgrounds!)
  • Whether kids today are missing out on the benefits of reading
  • How algorithms shape what we read (or don’t)
  • The impact of reading on language, learning, and imagination
  • Audio vs. visual learners in the age of content overload
  • The long-term implications of a society that reads less
    • Timestamps:
    • 00:00 – Welcome + why we used to love reading
    • 03:30 – Growing up with books in Brazil and beyond
    • 07:10 – Jamie’s Michael Crichton phase & fiction’s golden age
    • 10:50 – Paperbacks vs. iPads: the evolution of how we read
    • 14:45 – Do books on shelves make us look smarter?
    • 18:30 – Why Alex shifted to nonfiction and stopped reading fiction
    • 22:40 – Audio books, Whoopi Goldberg, Obama, and the voice in your head
    • 26:15 – Kids today: attention spans, algorithms, and learning challenges
    • 33:00 – What happens if we stop reading?
    • 38:30 – Has content just evolved or been dumbed down?
    • 40:00 – Final thoughts: the real state of reading today
      • Website: www.therealstate.co
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      The Real StateBy Bleav
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