Thais and reading

[Larry]

They say there are lies, ###### lies and then there are statistics.

Last week, the Bangkok Post quoted a UNESCO report that the average reading of a Thai is eight lines per year and that the over 10 year old average is 3 minutes reading per year.

This does not comport with my observations, at least. While it's true that Thais are in no way "the People of the Book," this statistic seems so far-fetched.  How could this be true in Thailand, which is at least somewhat of a technologically advanced society?

Interested to hear comments.

[LordHawHaw]

Agreed!  "Seven percent of the people in western Europe wear shoes."  That's a fact; there is, however, another 90+% who also wear shoes....

IMHO the Thai newsstands and bookstores could not exist if this statistic were true in Bangkok.  Lots of newspapers here, tons of magazines.

So, as a guess, I would say the statistic deals only with the millions of rural folks who have no or limited access to magazines, books, and newspapers, and have little use for them in their daily lives.  That would make it a dishonest statistic, or at best inaccurately reported.  

I'm very skeptical of the accuracy of the claim.  There is too much we don't know about how it was researched and calculated.

[chaladmak]

statistics are always questionable source of truth...

I always see a lot of Thais in book stores.... and last time in Queen Sirikit snter on book Expo there was hardly place to walk - it was packed with Thais....

my wife reads regularly, as many of my friends. I personally bought her a lot of Thai books - and she finished them fast....

[FreedomDude]

On a recent 10 hour train ride from Ubon Ratchatani to Bangkok, I was amazed that not one person (everyone but me was Thai) I saw had any kind of reading material whatsoever. They seemed perfectly content with just talking and looking out the window. I tend to agree with the UNESCO report. I think most of the above observations are based on observations in Bangkok.

[toastwars]

I think you are right, most of the reading is done in Bangkok. I have noticed even in the suberbs you get funny looks and comments when perusing a book. I am a voracious reader but I very seldom see Thais reading. I know that some must but all you have to do is look around on the skytrain or any public transport and seeing a reader is a very uncommon sight. As for seing thais in book stores that may be true but how many have you seen actually buy a book if they are not a student.

Edited February 16, 2005 by toastwars

[tuky]

The folks I have associations with read a littern bit, and most of that you will find at the bottom of the karaoke screen

[Boon Mee]

My wife has been in the West for long enough periods to pick up the reading habit but I agree with the statistics quoted.

While we were recently stuck in the typical Bangkok traffic jam with friends, she and I were the only ones reading. Me a map and her a furniture magazine but the point is the other folks ranging from teenager to Yaay-age were content just looking out the window.

It is odd...

[gobkk]

in morris bermans book,the twilight of american culture ,he says 50% of all americans are illiterate or functionally illiterate and that 60% of americans never even read one book. gw bush may be one of em.

[Boon Mee]

in morris bermans book,the twilight of american culture ,he says 50% of all americans are illiterate or functionally illiterate and that 60% of americans never even read one book. gw bush may be one of em.

Yep...take it to the Bearpit.

[gobkk]

in morris bermans book,the twilight of american culture ,he says 50% of all americans are illiterate or functionally illiterate and that 60% of americans never even read one book. gw bush may be one of em.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep...take it to the Bearpit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

huh?i love bears and they shouldn't be thrown into pits to fight to the death!or dogs or cocks or siamese fighting betta fish either!

[johnnyk]

I think I read somewhere that Thailand has one of the lowest rates of book purchases of any developed/semi-developed (countries beyond abject poverty) nation. If so, that could be an interesting indicator.

Must admit, I've seen very few Thais reading anywhere.

[penzman]

They do sell lots of news papers here though. I see them in most food shops where we eat, unlesst they were bought for the lottery numbers only.