According
to the September 2017 issue of READER’S DIGEST, bestsellers are indeed dumber.
The article demonstrates that the language of the most popular novels today is
much simpler than just a few decades ago.
Author Ben
Blatt discusses this in his book NABOKOV’S FAVORITE WORD IS MAUVE from which
the article is taken. Blatt collected every digitized number one NEW YORK TIMES
bestseller from 1960 to 2014 and ran the Flesch-Kincaid test on all 563 of
them. His research maintains that most books meant for a general audience fall
within the 4th to 11th grade range as do all of the
bestsellers. In the 1960’s, the median book had a grade level of 8. Blatt’s
research places today’s median grade level at 6. Interestingly, bestsellers at
the lowest score range (grade 4.4) were written by three high volume writers
who generally top the bestseller list: James Patterson, Janet Evanovich and
Nora Roberts.
Blatt
also breaks down books by genre. Thrillers and romances are singled out in
particular for what he calls the “dumbification” of popular fiction. Stephen
King, Danielle Steel and Harlan Coben all rank at or below 6th grade
reading level.
However,
Blatt doesn’t castigate these writers for using simple language. Popular
writers want to embrace the masses, to reach as many readers as possible. He
sees this as a good thing.
As a writer,
the advice I’ve run across most frequently is to use language that is clear,
concise and simple. George Orwell said it best: “Good prose should be transparent,
like a window pane.”
Yet as a
former teacher as well, I have observed that the interest and ability to read
has diminished to some extent in our society, at least in my lifetime. Perhaps
you disagree or agree?
Your
thoughts welcome here.
