More than 43 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third-grade level.
A rise of just 1% in literacy scores leads to a 2.5% rise in labor productivity and a 1.5% rise in GDP
If all adults could reach the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level, up to $2.2 trillion additional income could be generated annually for the United States
An estimated $106 – $238 billion in health care costs every year are linked to low adult literacy skills
When people who are in prison participate in education programs, they are 43% less likely to re-offend, compared to people who do not participate
Only 25% of students in California schools can perform basic reading skills.
Three out of four people on welfare can’t read.
In 1990 “The Guinness World Record Book” recognized Howard Berg for his ability to read more than 25,000 words per minute. However, this is exceptional. A normal reading rate for learning is considered 100-200 words per minute, and for comprehension, it is 200-400 wpm. Speed readers normally read at a rate of up to 700 wpm.But it is a fact that geniuses read much faster than most people. Napoleon, for example, read at a rate of 2,000 words per minute, while the French novelist, Balzac, could read a small novel in just about 30 minutes!
Nearly 85% of the juveniles who face trial in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, proving that there is a close relationship between illiteracy and crime. More than 60% of all inmates are functionally illiterate.
'Bibliosma' is the word for loving the way books smell.
The most expensive book ever purchased was bought by Bill Gates for $30.8 million - it was The Codex Leicester by Leonardo Da Vinci, and had been written in 1510.
Researchers at the University of Sussex found reading for just six minutes may reduce stress by up to 68%
It's been found that reading enhances our attention spans: the structure of stories helps kids' brains process things in sequence, which holds their attention for longer and enables clear thinking.
The University of California has found that people having a ninth-grade (or higher) literacy level, have 4 to 5 times more chances not to suffer mental declines as they age.
Children who read 3,000 words each day take top 2% positions in standardized tests. So, if you want your children to have a productive life and successful career, you need to introduce them to reading.
Proficient readers usually have better paid jobs. They are 2.5 times more likely to earn $1,000 or more a week.
The world’s tallest book, “Collection of Maritime Rules”, is stored in the Amsterdam Museum. Its height is about 6.4 feet, and it’s over 3 feet wide.
Well, if you enjoy reading and are deeply concerned about your vision, take speed-reading courses. This skill helps to preserve vision and doubles your recall speed
Some states determine how many prison beds will be needed in future years in part on how well current elementary students are performing on reading tests.