China’s post-‘80s & ’90s are biggest book buyers of 2018: Alibaba Report

[TaiShang]

China’s post-‘80s & ’90s are biggest book buyers of 2018: Alibaba Report

(People's Daily Online) 17:29, January 11, 2019

(Photo/Chinanews.com)


In 2018, almost 30 million people were added to the population of keen readers thanks to the widespread use of e-books and convenient access to books, according to a newly released report on reading patterns in China, Chinanews.com reported on Jan. 8.

Last year, Chinese people bought an average of 5.5 paper books each via platforms such as Tmall, Taobao, Xianyu, and Alibaba Literature, and read one more book, on average, than the previous year, the report revealed. The report was issued by Alibaba and based on data from various platforms.

A reading map in the report indicated that people living in the developed coastal provinces and cities read more, with Shanghai enjoying the highest reading rate across the country. Career-themed books and foreign language books, especially those which were imported, were favored among Shanghai readers.

Those who were born in or after the year 2000 were more interested in buying exam guides, while the post-90s group, who are now in their 20s, started to buy parenting and psychology books.

The post-80s and -90s generation bought more books than any other age group on Tmall and Taobao, accounting for 38 percent and 37 percent respectively. In the same year, the number of book orders online rose by 17 percent year-on-year.

Furthermore, nearly half of all digital book readers (46 percent) belong to the post-90s generation, according to the report.

The year of 2018 was significant in terms of the flow of second-hand books. On Xianyu, Taobao’s second-hand mobile app, readers exchanged used books with each other, and data showed that readers in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing ranked top in regards to book exchange.

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Which books did you read last year? For me, it is all articles and a number of Social Science methodology books...

No time for fun reading.

@long_ , @AndrewJin , @Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA , @Raphael , @+4vsgorillas-Apebane , @powastick , @Nan Yang , @sinait , @cirr , et al.

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

I am buying books for my son only.

 

[TaiShang]

I am buying books for my son only.

I used to read for fun like there is no tomorrow, but since when I became a researcher, there is really no time for fun reading. I think it kills creativity. A good social science/natural science researcher need to have a good command of literature to maintain creativity.

No creativity= no science.

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

I used to read for fun like there is no tomorrow, but since when I became a researcher, there is really no time for fun reading. I think it kills creativity. A good social science/natural science researcher need to have a good command of literature to maintain creativity.

No creativity= no science.

People often scoff at the arts and humanities but colorful people are need to build vibrant and attractive cultures. Just as long as they don't over do it and cross the line into cringe worthy Korean dramas and kpop.

 

[GHALIB]

i was a dedicated reader , now don't find time to read .

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

i was a dedicated reader , now don't find time to read .

Just switch to audio books. That's what I did, that way you can "read" while Commuting.

 

[GHALIB]

Just switch to audio books. That's what I did, that way you can "read" while Commuting.

i will try it .

 

[TaiShang]

People often scoff at the arts and humanities but colorful people are need to build vibrant and attractive cultures. Just as long as they don't over do it and cross the line into cringe worthy Korean dramas and kpop.

Definitely. Eventually, literature is a science and a noble one. Overdoing it for some celebrity status and over-popularizing it would eventually hurt creativity itself.

i was a dedicated reader , now don't find time to read .

I find myself that, even when I read literary works (not academic ones), I tend to revisit the ones I read when I was in the high school and an undergrad.

This may be a good way to do quick readings amidts tight schedules.

 

[SurvivoR]

I too was an avid recreational reader. I used to read almost anything to gain knowledge, it was so much fun. Miss those days. I have been trying to get around the idea of ebooks but its a strain on the eyes (I don't have Kindle). The books have a feel of their own which can never be replaced by technology.

However, I still am eager to hop on the bandwagon as ebooks etc have their own benefits like storage and quick access. Can anyone guide me to some good online resources?

 

[IsaacNewton]

Good.

Physical books are just superior to E-books.

 

[powastick]

I tried to order books from Taobao, the vendor don't know how to send to Malaysia.

 

[艹艹艹]

 

[Nilgiri]

People often scoff at the arts and humanities but colorful people are need to build vibrant and attractive cultures. Just as long as they don't over do it and cross the line into cringe worthy Korean dramas and kpop.

I agree, the korean TV kpop stuff is god darn awful. It sickens how they are feminizing men in them especially....and lot of the current young generation is just lapping it all up without thinking. Its ugly brainwash mind control crap.

What would you say the TV/media culture is like in China out of interest these days? Any high quality top tier shows etc you would recommend?

 

[TaiShang]

I tried to order books from Taobao, the vendor don't know how to send to Malaysia.

Have you tried Dang Dang 当当网?

http://book.dangdang.com/?_utm_brand_id=11106&_ddclickunion=460-5-biaoti|ad_type=0|sys_id=1

I have bought books from them and had no problem to be shipped to Taipei.

I also have DangDang e-book reader. Much better (and affordable) than Kindle. especially for reading in Chinese.