[talon8635]

Less literature on offer? It seems to me the easiest time in human history to access any information whatsoever, including any and all literature.

The quality of modern literature may well be declining, but the is literally endless reading material everywhere

[lukewrites]

Sorry, I edited out some context there. What I meant is that _at school_ there's less literature on offer; instead, kids are burdened with reading "instructional texts" that are as terrible and lifeless as the name sounds.

I think parents have to counteract the negative effects of this by exposing their kids to the joys of words and reading. I agree with you 100% that there's an amazing diversity of texts out there now! Every so often when I grab an ereader I think about how blown away I would have been as a kid to think that I could take HUNDREDS of books with me on vacation.

[riffraff]

I think GP meant it's not just "laying around", you have to actively look for books.

When I was a kid I had a ton of books from my parents in the house and when bored I could pick one up.

That's not the same as having a computer, tablet or phone, cause kids will gravitate towards non-reading activities.

(If everyone in the family owns an e-reader this obviously would be a different situation)