Presbyterians read a lot of books. According to a recent Presbyterian Panel survey (February 1998), the median number of books read in the last year was 12 for members and elders, and 20 for pastors and specialized clergy. Only 9 percent of members, 5 percent of elders, 2 percent of pastors, and 1 percent of specialized clergy reported reading no books in the last year, while at the other extreme, 12 percent (members) to 19 percent (specialized clergy and pastors) had read 50 or more. Because of these "over-achievers," the mean number of books read is 23 for members, 24 for elders, 33 for pastors, and 29 for specialized clergy.
Reading interests range widely among Presbyterians. More than a third of us have read many or several "best-selling novels" in the last year; mysteries and science fiction books are almost as popular. (See the figure.) Few Presbyterians spend time reading books of poetry. Among non- fiction works, sizable minorities of Presbyterians report reading many or several books on history or biography. About one in eight lay and clerical Presbyterians had read many or several science or nature books.
Not surprisingly, pastors differ from most people in the pew in their reading predilections. Majorities of pastors report having read many or several books in each of the areas of "theology," "spiritual growth," and "Bible study." Fewer laity have read extensively in any of these areas, especially theology. However, noticeable minorities of members report reading many or several books on other faith-related topics, including a quarter who have read a number of books on "spiritual growth" in the last year, and 30 percent who have read many or several books on "Bible study."
Among lay Presbyterians, reading totals vary by education level. Members with one or more graduate degrees read an average of 15 books in the prior year, compared to 12 among college graduates and 11 among those whose formal educations stopped with a high school diploma.
Reading preferences also vary by education. In particular, members with graduate degrees are more likely to read books they classify as "literature," while those with high school degrees are more likely to read "romance novels." High school graduates are also more likely to read books on faith-related topics than are college graduates.
Whether laity or clergy, women typically read more books than men. Among members, women report reading a median of 15 books in the prior year, men, eight. Among pastors, the median for the prior year is 30 among women, 20 among men.
Presbyterians acquire their books from a variety of sources. Almost all at least occasionally visit a "general-purpose retail bookstore," including a third of members (33 percent), four in ten elders (41 percent), and majorities of pastors (52 percent) and specialized clergy (54 percent) who do so once a month or more. While a few buy books on-line, at the time of the survey 87 percent of members and 72 percent of pastors had never visited an Internet bookstore.
Presbyterians are a bit less likely to visit religious than more general bookstores. While a majority in all Panel samples report having been to at least one such store in the last year, fewer than one in ten members and around one in four pastors visited religious bookstores once a month or more.
A summary of the findings of Panel survey is available on the web at Books, Reading, and Study Resources (February 1998)
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