Alix Earle faces criticism over comments on reading habits

Influencer Alix Earle has faced significant online criticism after stating in an interview that she has ‘never read a book,’ jokingly suggesting she might have read Dr. Seuss. The comments sparked a broader debate regarding declining literacy and attention spans in the United States, noting that federal data shows daily reading among Americans dropped from 28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023.

In response to the backlash, ‘Today’ show co-host Jenna Bush Hager created a reading syllabus for Earle. Hager recommended starting with ‘The Baby-Sitter’s Club’ series by Ann M. Martin, noting that the themes of female empowerment and entrepreneurship would resonate with Earle’s background.