While culture is going through one of the worst periods in its history because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the book does not know the crisis.
Or so little.
Closed during the first two lockdowns, bookstores still managed to do well economically, leading to rarely seen scenes of long (hidden) lines when they reopened in May or just before Christmas, with record sales as a result. for certain works, such as "L'Anomalie", the last Goncourt prize.
The conclusions of the fourth survey on "The French and reading", which we unveil exclusively, may therefore surprise: fewer French people read in 2020 than in 2019.
Less travel time, competition from screens ...
According to the study carried out by Ipsos for the National Book Center (CNL) on a representative national sample of French people made up of 1,000 people aged 15 and over, 86 % of French people read at least one book last year compared to 92% the previous year.
No major technological shift despite confinement: the digital book is progressing very slightly, the share of people reading only on screen rising from 1% to 3%.
For the CNL, this drop in readership is “certainly linked to the constraints imposed by the health crisis”.
Less time spent in public transport, difficulty in delving into reading when the news is cannibalizing our attention, competition from Netflix-type platforms ...
Happiness for one in two French people.
Newly appointed to the presidency of the CNL, Régine Hatchondo does not want to be alarmist, especially as 80% of buyers keep the reflex to do their shopping in bookstores.
If the French have perhaps turned more to the small screen in 2020, "the dynamics of the publishing market remain reassuring" and "more than ever, reading is associated with relaxation".
For 72% of respondents (+ 8 points in one year), reading is a source of pleasure.
In this very special year, one in two French people (49%) believe that reading even allows “to be happy and fulfilled in life”.
This criterion registers an impressive jump of twenty points compared to the previous study.
READ ALSO>
The coronavirus, future literary "hero"
For young people, it's escape.
On the side of the youngest, who have particularly suffered from being confined, the idea that the book makes it possible to escape jumped: they are now 23% to think so although they had not mentioned it during the previous study.
And if they had an extra day in the week to devote to their leisure activities, "reading would come second in activities, after outings with friends," says the book defense organization.
Last year, 91% of 15-24 year olds read at least one book, including 82% in paper format (- 10 points).
Digital technology is progressing faster in this age group (37% of young people have tried reading on a screen).
Ubiquitous news.
If fewer French people have read, heavy readers have given it their all, as evidenced by the increase in the average basket (101 euros, up by 12 euros, according to a GfK study).
Unsurprisingly, the novel remains the most popular literary genre (67% but a drop of seven points in one year), ahead of practical books (49%) and those on history (45%).
The only genre to progress: the book of reports and news (essays, biographies, etc.), cited by 36% of respondents (+ 6 points).
More surprisingly, the comic book goes back ten boxes ...