Unread books

Readers, I am bound to confess that I'm struggling - have been for some days. What is one to do when newspapers are reduced to reporting things that haven't happened? As here:

One in four read no books last year

This is from the US, but it prompts questions about how many people read no books elsewhere - in Sweden, in Brazil, or indeed in no country in particular... on planes or sea cruises. And since the 'typical person', according to the report, claims to have read four books, it would be interesting to know which books they didn't read.

Tracey Q. Pettigrew of Plains, Georgia, did not read The Magus by John Fowles

As I say, what is one to do? I do what I can, is all. And what I can do here is offer advice to the guy who says, 'I just get sleepy when I read.' This is my advice. First, don't read in bed before going to sleep if that is what happens to you; go to bed an hour earlier, wake up an hour earlier, and read for an hour before getting up. Second, if you sit down to read during the day, and feel sleepy, take a swift nap - 15 to 20 minutes - and read when you wake up. And third, don't bother with the The Magus. Tracey is right. (Via.)