A nation of non-readers
March 18, 2006
During my snootier moments I am tempted to think that the U.S. is a nation of non-readers. But take a look at one of our Southern neighbors:
Brazil | A nation of non-readers | Economist.com
But Brazilians’ indifference to books has deeper roots. Centuries of slavery meant the country’s leaders long neglected education. Primary schooling became universal only in the 1990s. Radio was ubiquitous by the 1930s; libraries and bookshops have still not caught up. “The electronic experience came before the written experience,” says Marino Lobello, of the Brazilian Chamber of Books, an industry body.
The article goes on to say that Brazil may be shaping up to be a big book market for publishers. Conventional publishers, perhaps, but it might be a bigger opportunity for electronic publishers and e-books, whose ship has yet to come in, even in the developed world. I hope I live to see this happen. It’s an exciting prospect.
Dave, who loves his books, regardless of form.
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