Clara Sneed says reading is making a comeback as Americans seek escape

Award-winning author Clara Sneed is spotlighting renewed interest in books as Americans look for relief from digital overload, economic anxiety and nonstop news. Her comments come as industry and survey data show reading remains a major part of U.S. life.

Why it matters: - Clara Sneed argues that reading offers a quieter alternative to the pace of online life. - Her message taps into a broader cultural shift toward slower, more mindful forms of entertainment. - The trend matters because reading remains a significant habit for millions of Americans.

What happened: - Clara Sneed, an award-winning author based in Los Angeles, said Americans are looking for books as an escape from “our sped-up electronic existence.” - Sneed said books create an intimate exchange between author and reader and give each reader a personal version of the story. - Sneed pointed to industry data showing U.S. publishing sales reached $33.4 billion in 2025. - The number of books sold rose to 3.15 billion in 2025, according to the Association of American Publishers. - Pew Research Center found that 75% of American adults read at least part of a book in the previous year.

The details: - Sneed said readers use books to slow down, reflect and reconnect with stories that put current events in perspective. - She said reading and audiobooks remain both personal and communal because each person imagines the material differently. - Sneed said her own work focuses on history, family relationships and events that leave lasting marks on communities. - Her historical novel, Before We Turn to Dust, revisits the Sneed-Boyce feud in early 20th-century Texas. - Her nonfiction book, Because This Is Texas: An Account of the Sneed-Boyce Feud, tells the same history in nonfiction form. - Sneed said people are drawn to stories about real people because they see pieces of themselves in them. - Sneed said her books explore how people and societies navigate conflict, preserve family histories and reinforce social values. - Sneed said she was a voracious reader before becoming a writer. - She said reading expands the mind, heart and spirit and is one of the most essential tools in a democracy.

Between the lines: - The comments frame reading not just as leisure, but as a response to social and technological fatigue. - Sneed’s emphasis on history and family conflict suggests readers may be looking for stories with emotional grounding and long-term meaning, not just escape. - The industry data backs up the idea that books still have durable commercial and cultural relevance.

What’s next: - Sneed said she wants readers to “turn off the distractions” and make time for books. - She is available for interviews through her media contact. - More information is available on Clara Sneed’s website.

The bottom line: - Sneed is using her platform to cast reading as both a refuge and a civic good at a time when many Americans are looking for exactly that.