Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Reading is an amazing process. This is an opportunity to get new information at a comfortable pace for you; have fun and go to unknown worlds without getting up from the couch; be surprised at the talent of other people; learn to better express your thoughts, speak and write; get centuries-old wisdom and prepare for new life trials …
International Institute for Marketing Research GFK conducted a survey asking respondents how often they read. And the results, in fact, are encouraging. In this article, we have compiled a ranking of the 10 most reading countries in the world – that is, the 10 countries in which people read most often.
Rating of the most reading countries in the world
| Nomination | a place | country | rating |
| 10 most reading countries in the world | 10 | Canada | 4.1 |
| 9 | Mexico | 4.2 | |
| 8 | Brazil | 4.3 | |
| 7 | Argentina | 4.4 | |
| 6 | USA | 4.5 | |
| 5 | Great Britain | 4.6 | |
| 4 | Italy | 4.7 | |
| 3 | Spain | 4.8 | |
| 2 | Russia | 4.9 | |
| 1 | China | 5.0 |
Canada
Rating: 4.1
51% of the Canadians surveyed admitted that they read books at least once a week. And the most popular novel was Cherie Dimaline's novel The Marrow Thieves.
The Marrow Thieves is a dystopian novel for teenagers that tells about a dark and not too pleasant future, in which people have forgotten how to dream. This led to disastrous psychological consequences. As a result, the insidious government went on a 'hunt' for those few remaining people who still have not lost the gift of dreaming, in the hope of making a life-saving serum from their bone marrow.
In addition, one of the most widely read books in this country is the novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamez, which tells about the difficult life of an Indian boy; and Warlight by Michael Ondaye, which chronicles the lives of London children during the 1945 Nazi bombings.
Mexico
Rating: 4.2
52% of Mexicans surveyed reported that they read books every day or at least once a week. And the most widely read book was Espejos y Ventanas ('Mirrors and Windows') by Mark Luons.
Espejos y Ventanas follows the traditions of Latin American literature – it is a novel about common people who lived in the Mexican community in Kennett Square. He talks about Mexicans who migrated to the United States for a better life; about their parents who remained in Mexico; about their children, who are forced to exist in almost two countries at the same time. Mirrors and Windows reveals the struggle of immigrants for their social, political and economic rights.
Also among the most widely read books in this country are a study of prostitution and the persecution of this activity in the 19th and 20th centuries by Fernanda Nunez Becerra; and an illustrated popular science publication about the intricacies and traditions of celebrating the Day of the Dead.
Brazil
Rating: 4.3
53% of Brazilian respondents said they read books at least once a week, if not every day. Actually, this makes it one of the most reading countries in the world. And the most popular book among Brazilians turned out to be A Sutil Arte de Ligar o Fda-Se, published in Russian under the title 'The Subtle Art of Don't Care', by Mark Manson.
'The subtle art of indifference' is a nonfiction piece that teaches an unusual way of life. It teaches you to speak and act directly, eliminates unnecessary and meaningless positives, and is, in fact, a critical reaction to motivational aids. From the author's point of view, in order to achieve happiness, one should not look for the positive, but accept one's shortcomings.
Also among the most widely read books in this country are Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel by the American literary classic Ray Bradbury; and O milagre da manhã ('The Miracle of the Morning') by Hal Elrod is a nonfiction work that talks about the benefits of early awakening and suggests correct morning habits.
Argentina
Rating: 4.4
53% of Argentines, when asked how often they read, answered that every day or at least 1 time per week. The most popular work of fiction was the novel 'A Meter from Each Other' by Rachel Lippincott.
A Meter Away is a teen novel about the love between two young people. And everything would be nice if not for one 'but'. If a guy touches a girl, she will die. So the fatal illness hinders the development of feelings and relationships a little. The book became a bestseller not only in Argentina, but also in a huge number of other countries, and is based on real events.
However, Argentines are not only fond of sentimental prose. The most widely read books in this country also include 'Sapiens. A Brief History of Humanity 'by Yuval Noah Harari – popular science work on evolutionary biology in the context of the development of our species; and a collection of poems by Argentinean author Mercedes Romero 'Fireflies in Cans'.
USA
Rating: 4.5
55% of Americans said they read at least once a week, or even every day. This placed the United States on the 6th line of our rating of the most reading countries in the world. And the most popular book was the memoirs of Barack Obama's wife.
Michelle Obama's memoirs, entitled Becoming, tell primarily about the life of the very first lady of the United States, and practically do not touch on politics. In the book, she recalls how she studied at Princeton and Harvard Law School, how she worked in a law firm, and met her husband. Even the story of the post-2008 elections is more about family life than politics.
Americans are basically interested in politics. Among the most popular books in this country is Michael Wolfe's monumental work Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which tells about the first months of the 45th President of the United States. And another bestseller is Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis – a mixture of memoirs, motivational advice, and common sense talk for teenage girls.
Great Britain
Rating: 4.6
56% of UK respondents told researchers they read at least once a week. And therefore, this country took the honorable 5th place in the ranking. And the most popular was the book Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine ('Eleanor Oliphant feels great') by Gale Honeyman.
'Eleanor Oliphant …' is a life-affirming novel that tells the story of the heroine of the same name. Eleanor is a strange, sarcastic, open and honest woman, with a difficult past and present. As a child, she lived with her mother, who suffered from a mental illness. And as she matured, she became a health visitor who does not treat patients very well. The book evokes a huge amount of emotions – from anger to sadness, from loneliness to hope for the future.
In addition, British comedian Adam Kay's Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, a collection of notes on medical service, are among the bestsellers in that country; and the children's book 'Ice Monster' about a girl who wants to find a mammoth.
Italy
Rating: 4.7
56% of Italians who took part in the study also reported that they read once a week or more often. And the most popular book was L'altro capo del filo ('The other end of the thread') by local author Andrea Camilleri.
Andrea Camilleri is known primarily as the author of the book 'The Shape of Water', but a series of detective stories brought him popularity in his homeland. The 'other end of the thread' also belongs to this genre. The detective tells about the brutal murder of a young and respected seamstress. Police Commissioner Montalbano, the hero of several dozen more novels by Andrea Camilleri, joins the investigation.
Also among the most popular works in this country are 'My Brilliant Friend' by Elena Ferrante – a novel about two women who lived in a poor Neapolitan area; and '7-7-2007' by Antonio Mancini, another police procedural detective of the famous Italian series.
Spain
Rating: 4.8
Spain opens the three most reading countries in the world – 57% of respondents admitted that they spend at least one evening a week with a book. And the most popular piece was Berta Isla by Javier Marias.
Berta Isla is an almost spy novel about the touching love of British intelligence agent Thomas and the mysterious woman Bertha. But do not rely on action and other exciting chases with gunfights. Berta Isla gradually plunges into the darkest and darkest corners of the human soul, telling the story of breaking a touching relationship.
In addition, the bestsellers include the novel Un andar solitario entre la gente ('A lonely walk among people') by Antonio Muñoz Molina about creators and people of art in search of understanding; and El día que se perdió el amor ('Lost Day of Love') by Javier Castillo is a gripping thriller full of action, intrigue and romance.
Russia
Rating: 4.9
Contrary to popular belief, Russia is in the honorable second place of the most reading countries in the world – 59% of respondents admitted that they open a book at least once a week. And the most popular work was Victor Pelevin's novel The Art of Light Touching.
In 'The Art of Light Touching', Victor Pelevin returns to his favorite genre of transcendental prose, constantly mixing genres, styles and plots. It's hard to say what this book is about. The Art of Light Touch is not a novel, but a metaphorical journey through modernity and antiquity, full of precise formulations and witty allegories.
In addition, Alexander Polyarny's Mint Tale, an incredibly controversial work in the genre of sentimental prose, which some readers compare to a cup of cappuccino under a warm blanket, while others call it hyped graphomania, has become one of the bestsellers in Russia; and '1984' by George Orwell, a dystopia that has recovered its relevance in today's political realities.
China
Rating: 5.0
And China has become the most reading country in the world. And not only because it is the most populous state. 79% of Chinese surveyed said they read at least once a week. And the most popular work was the novel “Live” by the famous local author Yu Hua.
'To live' is far from a new work. Its first edition took place in 1993. The novel tells about the Chinese revolution, its consequences and effects on ordinary people. In the center of the plot is Fugui, the son of a wealthy landowner. Before the revolution, he was a selfish nobleman, after – he became persecuted by the state.
In addition, the list of bestsellers in this country includes all three books by Liu Qixin (The Problem of the Three Bodies, The Dark Forest, The Eternal Life of Death) – a series of 'hard' science fiction novels that very interestingly describes the possible contact with alien civilizations and offers a very peculiar solution to the Fermi paradox.
Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
