Nice observation Holmes:-)

Believe it or not there is a role for Freakenomics in this case. I have not seen such a study, if it exists but I have often wondered about the correlation between income and time spent reading among socities that fall say in the range of $3000-$6000 GDP per capita. I’ve often been intrigued by the fact that not many people do much reading in Lebanon, not even newspapers. But upon some reflection it becomes clear that no one should realistically expect individuals to spend almost 10% of their income just to read a newspaper whose coverage of the news is not any deeper than the 30 second sound bites one gets from the TV stations. People dont read because they cannot afford to read. Maybe that is the explanation for strange election results. Uninformed/misinformed citizenry is the shortest route to authoritarian rule.

mustafa: very smart analysis here!

but i don’t agree with ghassan. my point of view is:
- sadly, when people in lebanon read, they mostly read politics
- people do have LOTS of time to spare. they just don’t think reading is a priority. look at the enormous audience ratios for TV shows like star academy, kalem el ness or superstar and you’ll notice that LOTS of time is wasted on entertainment and politics instead of litterature, culture or philosophy.
- economically speaking, books are quite expensive in lebanon compared to elsewhere (i am thinking france and usa) but LOTS of great books are either written in arabic or translated to arabic which makes them really affordable (e.g. the price of Elias El Khoury’s ‘Yalo’ french’s edition is almost double the price of the arabic edition)

Jimmy; How can you disagree with me when you restate the same case:-) Books are expensive and I suggest that even newspapers are too expensive for the average citizen

The median per capita income in Lebanon is much less than the average GDP per capita because the ditribution of income is skewed upward. Assume a median of $2000 per annum. That might translate to a family income of 6000-8000 per year to buy food, clothing, healty care, utilities,… and reading material. Do you think that under such circumstances this typical family will spend $300-$400 per year to buy a daily newpaper, not to mention books or magazines? Reading material is a luxury item and thus its consumption is easily relegated to the bottom of the list of needs.

If it’s to read what you find in bookstores in Beirut:

fundamentalist wackos, translations of Chomsky and Michael Moore and Roger Garaudy, I’d say ignorance is to be preferred.

The statistics will change drastically if you consider including “Fann al Tabb’kh” list of recipes, M. Farah’s & Carmen’s “crystal balls” of predictions as reading materials by us down here in Lebanon…

Great post.

Read “The Economist”, quality magazine, sheer class in its pages.

First published in 1843, in the words of its founder, ” to take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthty, timid ingnorance obstructing our progress.” !

my mistake ghassan :)

Joseywales,

you must be the first to describe Noam Chomsky as a fundamentalist Wacko! But again, judging by the picture you so proudly display, I’m sure your idol is Charlton Heston. See you at the next NRA convention.

FGA

I’d say Lebanese read much more newspapers than books (it’s cheaper , ok Ghassan) and for the ones that can afford the luxury of reading a book , they go for a magazine , such as mondanite or allo , whatever , it’s quite ridiculous , i’m not saying they don’t read books ( we’ve seen the amount of people in ” le salon du livre ”) but , the majority doesn’t … it’s quite sad . Even on the Internet , the Lebanese only chat , go ” porn ” , and some other stupid things … :)

Anon 9:27

Heston is a fine man.

As to you, look up the meaning of “comma” and get back to me.

Did you know josey was a male? You’d think his conservatism would forbid female names for males…go figure.

Lots of “books” in lebanon are available for very little. You can get pretty much any book “xeroxed” for “alf” at nearly any place. So basically, the problem doesnt lie in a lack of books, but more a lack of desire to read. People would rather spend their time at monot than reading a book. Speaking from experience, students at AUB are NOT required to purchase their textbooks for study but rely on teachers and alternate sources. In 1st world educational institutions, students are required to purchase books and forbidden from photocopying etc…

If the educational system encourages “corruption” with regards to books, forget finding a person who is eventually willing to purchase a book…nevermind reading it.

Sa3dan,
Your post makes me curious; how long would it take to photocopy say a 300 page book and how much would that cost?

ghassan, you can photocopy such a book for less than 5000LL (i’m being generous with the price).

I envy those who don’t read. It’s a curse to be a readaholic. It isolates you. It keeps you from interacting with people. It limits your thinking to black and white. You are too impatient for endings. People stop being three dimensional and you become very quick in wanting to put them in neat categories like; villain, good guy…. I wish I was a Lebanese who doesn’t read because maybe then I would dance the Samba!

and that includes diagrams. I guess you wouldnt really mind the color or lack of hardcover but 5000 is being generous.

Just take a walk down bliss and ask any AUB student. Keep in mind these are the “elite” of lebanons educated youngsters.

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