"In fact, according to a new JPMorgan survey of more than 100 billionaires, reading ranks as the top habit that elite achievers have in common. Two in five Americans did not read a single book in 2025, and daily reading for pleasure has plummeted some 40% over the past two decades. Experts widely point to the attention economy-supercharged by social media and increasingly AI-as a key driver of the shift away from long-form reading."
"Alison Taylor, a professor of business and society at NYU's Stern School of Business echoed that being a deep thinker is becoming like a "luxury good"-increasingly rare and important. "Having intellectual credibility, being well read and so on is definitely one thing money can't buy, so the ultimate status symbol," she told Fortune, adding that's why many CEOs declare a love for reading, even though some are "completely out of their depth on things like literature, philosophy and understanding the broad shifts in geopolitics.""
A JPMorgan survey of more than 100 billionaires finds reading ranks as the top habit elite achievers share. Two in five Americans did not read a single book in 2025. Daily reading for pleasure has fallen about 40% over the past two decades. The attention economy, amplified by social media and AI, is a major driver of the decline. Long-form reading develops focused attention, tolerance for ambiguity, and openness to nuance, which underpin nuanced analysis and communication. Those qualities are increasingly scarce and important for leadership and business success. Reading also fosters curiosity.
Read at Fortune
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