This podcast explores the decline of reading in America, focusing on the decreasing literacy scores among students and adults. The discussion features interviews with Rose Horowitch, who reports on declining reading abilities at elite colleges, and Nat Malkus, who analyzes nationwide literacy trends. Malkus highlights a widening achievement gap, with lower-performing students experiencing the most significant decline, a trend also observed in adult literacy scores. The decline is linked to potential factors such as shifts in education policy (from No Child Left Behind to Every Student Succeeds Act), changes in teaching methodologies, and the increasing influence of screen-based media on leisure time. The podcast concludes by emphasizing the potential negative consequences of this trend on cognitive abilities and the importance of addressing this issue comprehensively.
