The Tehran Times has two articles looking at the reading-situation in Iran.
First off, there's that old standard, the universally popular (just substitute any other country-name ...) Publishers express grave concern over Iranians' reluctance to read books.
Disappointing to hear, however, that:
On a more optimistic note, a Q & A with Dariush Matlabi offers his thoughts on From a window of words: Books and book reading in Iran -- and he argues:
Disappointing to hear, however, that:
About 100 bookstores have closed over the past year due to lack of enthusiasm for reading books(Which actually sounds like it could be from an article about book retailing from any other country in the world as well .....)
On a more optimistic note, a Q & A with Dariush Matlabi offers his thoughts on From a window of words: Books and book reading in Iran -- and he argues:
On the whole, I can say, over the past 60 years, there has always been an increase, whether dramatic or gradual, in book reading.(I'd rather see the numbers backing that up .....)