Britain’s reading revival may be failing to reach those most disconnected from books

Britain’s renewed enthusiasm for reading, reflected in initiatives such as the National Year of Reading and the popularity of online book communities, may be obscuring a less visible problem: many adults remain disconnected from reading altogether. This article argues that current conversations about reading often assume an existing relationship with books and overlook those whose reading habits have stalled or disappeared. Drawing on research into adult reading re-engagement, including work with readers in prisons, it suggests that barriers to reading are frequently rooted not in a lack of interest but in time pressures, confidence, concentration, and life circumstances. While reading advocacy often focuses on recommending books, the article contends that greater attention should be paid to rebuilding reading habits and creating the conditions that allow reading to become manageable again. In doing so, it calls for a broader understanding of reading promotion that reaches beyond existing readers and addresses those most excluded from contemporary reading culture.