Survey on Reading Desire: Over 40% Want to Read but Can't, 56.3% Read Zero Books a Month, and 'Lack of Time' is Top Reason for Giving Up

Oto-bank Inc. conducted a 'Survey on Reading Habits' targeting 904 audiobook users and 332 individuals from their late 20s to 50s who do not currently use audiobooks (hereafter, non-audiobook users). The survey revealed that 56.3% of non-audiobook users reported reading '0 books' per month, while 41.9% felt they 'want to read, but are not actually able to.' Among audiobook users, the average number of books read per month increased from 1.9 before use to 4.8 after. This suggests that the audiobook experience, which is easy to incorporate into daily life, such as 'reading while doing other things,' may promote reading habits.

## Key Survey Summary

- 56.3% of non-audiobook users reported '0 books read per month,' yet 41.9% feel they 'want to read but can't.'
- Among those who read '0 books' per month, 24.6% also reported 'wanting to read but not being able to.'
- The top reason for giving up on reading is 'lack of time' (34.5%), followed by 'lack of energy/concentration' (25.9%), and 'eye or physical fatigue makes reading print difficult' (21.6%).
- While 91.4% of audiobook users felt they 'wanted to read but couldn't' before using the service, their average monthly reading increased from 1.9 to 4.8 books after starting.
- 46.1% of audiobook users reported having 'repurchased a work they listened to as a physical or e-book.'

## Detailed Survey Results

### ① 56.3% Read '0 Books a Month,' but a Quarter of Them Still Have a 'Desire to Read'

A survey of 332 non-audiobook users in their late 20s to 50s nationwide found that 56.3% read '0 books' per month. However, when asked if they ever feel they 'want to read but can't,' 41.9% responded 'often' or 'sometimes.' Furthermore, 24.6% of those who read '0 books' a month still expressed a desire to read. This indicates a significant number of people who, despite not reading, still wish to do so.

### ② 'Lack of Time' is the Top Reason for Giving Up on Reading

The most cited reasons for finding it difficult to continue or giving up on reading were 'lack of time' (34.5%), 'lack of energy/concentration' (25.9%), and 'eye or physical fatigue makes reading print difficult' (21.6%). These results point to three 'walls' that prevent reading: a 'time wall' due to work and family, a 'physical wall' due to the strain of reading, and a 'psychological wall' of finding the motivation to start and continue.

In contrast, audiobook users cited 'can read while doing other things' (69.4%), 'can read without using my eyes' (17.1%), and 'low psychological barrier' (7.3%) as key values. These features directly address the 'walls,' suggesting audiobooks lower the hurdles to engaging with books in daily life.

### ③ 91.4% of Audiobook Users Felt They 'Wanted to Read but Couldn't' Before Use

When audiobook users were asked about their reading habits before use, 91.4% said they had felt they 'wanted to read but couldn't' ('often' 63.4%, 'sometimes' 28.0%).

Their average monthly reading volume (including audiobooks) increased from 1.9 books before use to 4.8 books after. The percentage of people reading three or more books a month jumped 3.3 times, from 22.3% to 73.7%. The percentage of those reading '0 books' dropped from 20.7% to 2.0%, showing a clear shift in reading habits.

### ④ Over 40% 'Repurchased a Work They Listened to as a Physical or E-book'

In response to the question, 'Have you ever repurchased a work you listened to as an audiobook in physical or e-book form?', 46.1% answered 'yes.' Additionally, 72.8% said their 'interest in topics about books has increased' since using audiobooks, indicating that exposure through audiobooks sparks further engagement, including purchases and general interest.

## Changes in Reading Experience After Using Audiobooks (Excerpts from Open-ended Responses)

- **Finished wanted-to-read books**: 'I was able to finish long novels that I would have given up on before.' 'Thanks to audiobooks, I finally conquered a challenging Russian novel, which gave me a lot of confidence.'
- **Reading became a habit**: 'I was so busy with work and chores that I couldn't read at all, but now I can listen while doing other things, which I'm so happy about.' 'I've discovered books I never would have found on my own.'
- **Reduced eye and body strain**: 'I'm over sixty and reading small print was becoming difficult, so I'm happy to be able to engage with books again.'

## Comment from audiobook.jp Representative

This survey revealed that while more than half of non-audiobook users read '0 books' a month, over 40% feel they 'want to read but can't.' The reasons people stop reading are not just a lack of interest, but practical issues like lack of time, low energy, and physical fatigue. In this context, audiobooks offer a new option for enjoying books, not only by fitting into the gaps of a busy day but also for those who find it difficult to read using their eyes and hands.