Recent discussions about the decline of American reading habits highlight a troubling trend. The 2023 international assessment of adult skills revealed that 28 percent of American adults scored at or below the lowest level of literacy, an increase from 19 percent six years prior. Estimates suggest that over half of American adults read below a sixth-grade level.
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These reflections typically emphasize external challenges such as disruptive technology and societal issues affecting demand for books. However, less attention is given to the supply side, particularly the impact of corporate publishing practices on consumer interest.
The mass-market paperback, a once-popular and affordable book format, faced its end in 2025 due to decisions made by major publishing houses including Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. This format had generated significant sales until the industry failed to keep it fresh and appealing.
Mass-market paperbacks emerged in the late 1930s, offering a cheaper alternative to hardcovers. They were accessible to a broad audience, sold in various retail locations, and became hugely popular, with Pocket Books selling 8.5 million copies within two years of launching.
However, the landscape has shifted dramatically since then. By 2024, the highest-selling mass-market title sold just 53,000 copies. Executives in the publishing industry have attributed this decline to consumer preferences, resulting in few public acknowledgments of their own role in diminishing the availability and appeal of printed materials.
Publications like The Atlantic have characterized the crisis of reading as a societal failure but rarely address the responsibilities of the publishing industry. Increasingly, students are receiving school-issued personal devices, but little consideration is given to how the industry's choices in pricing, distribution, and content affect long-form reading habits.
The current bestsellers frequently reflect a limited range of contemporary commercial fiction and series titles from established authors, overshadowing the variety once offered in early mass-market books. Affordability has also come under scrutiny; while the cost of mass-market paperbacks tripled between their peak and the last years of production, hardcovers had become more affordable.
Furthermore, the physical distribution of books has dwindled, with major retailers scaling back their book sections—evident when Costco ceased carrying books in most of its stores. Despite these challenges, trade mass-market paperbacks remain available in Canada at lower prices and higher literacy rates than in the U.S.
The ongoing issues indicate a significant disconnect from the needs and habits of a wider audience in favor of catering to a more affluent customer base. As the industry grapples with declining sales, the question remains whether it will address its role in the current state of American reading and fight for the accessibility of affordable books.