Summary of Why everyone stopped reading.

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

In the YouTube video "Why everyone stopped reading ," the speaker discusses the decline in reading among students, even at elite colleges and universities. The root cause is the shift from phonics to whole language learning in the 1960s, which did not work and led to literacy rates falling. Education reforms, such as No Child Left Behind and Common Core, emphasized informational text and standardized testing, leading students to focus on extracting information rather than analyzing symbolism or practicing close reading. Additionally, modern technology and distractions like social media hinder people from reading books for pleasure or in-depth analysis, with time seeming to flow differently when using these platforms. The speaker concludes that both the educational system and technology have contributed to the decline in reading.

• 00:00:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Why everyone stopped reading," the speaker discusses the issue of students' inability to read books, even at elite colleges and universities. The problem is not limited to those who didn't go to college, but also affects those who did. The root cause of this issue is the way we teach kids to read, which began shifting from phonics to whole language learning around the 1960s. Whole language learning, which emphasized learning to read at the level of a word and inferring meaning from context, did not work, leading to literacy rates falling in countries that adopted it. The speaker argues that if students were not taught phonics properly, reading will never be enjoyable or pleasurable for them. The speaker also mentions the role of education reforms, such as No Child Left Behind and Common Core, which emphasized informational text and standardized testing, leading students to focus on extracting information from texts rather than analyzing symbolism, themes, or practicing close reading.
• 00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Why everyone stopped reading," the speaker discusses the decline in reading stamina among students and the impact of standardized testing and technology on reading habits. The speaker argues that students, particularly those in elite colleges and universities, have not been taught how to read whole books due to an emphasis on test-taking skills and optimizing for standardized tests. Additionally, the speaker points out that people spend a significant amount of time reading online through platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok, which can be distracting and prevent them from focusing on reading books. The speaker concludes that both the educational system and modern technology have contributed to the decline in reading for pleasure or in-depth analysis.
• 00:10:00 In this section of the YouTube video "Why everyone stopped reading," the speaker discusses how distractions like social media and other forms of Easy Entertainment hinder people from reading. The speaker shares a personal experience of intending to read before bed but getting lost in social media for hours instead. The speaker notes that time seems to flow differently when using social media, making it easier and more instantly pleasurable despite the negative feelings that come afterward. The result of these distractions is a decline in book reading, with fewer and fewer people engaging in the activity. The speaker acknowledges the issue but is unsure of a solution.