The Booker Prize launches a new Quick Read to promote the challenge of reading for adults Books

A project aimed at increasing access to Booker prize-winning authors will be launched this week, as research has found that more than a third of UK adults struggle to read books to the end.

The Booker Prize Foundation is launching short stories on the theme Around the World, including works by Booker Prize winner Anne Enright, David Szalay and International Booker prize nominee Nadifa Mohamed. The collection was selected by another former winner, Roddy Doyle.

Data from the upcoming State of the Nation’s Adult Reading report shows that 55% said they read less than they would like, while 19% of 16-24 year olds said they “can’t easily find or have their culture represented in books”. The Reading Agency is expected to publish the full report by the end of the summer.

Globally we will distribute it as part of the Quick Reads Initiative, which is in its 20th year to improve literacy among older adults. Readers will be able to pick up the book for £1 from Thursday and the Booker Prize Foundation will donate 12,000 copies to people with reading disabilities. The book will also be donated to the foundation’s prison reading program, Books Unlocked.

The collection will be available as a free digital and audio download to readers of this week’s Big Story, and 300 copies will be distributed through magazine retailers. George Anderson, a Big Issue seller based in central London, said: “Reading is almost like thinking.

Booker prize-winning author Roddy Doylewho was given the task of overseeing the text, called the book “an invitation to people to read”. Responding to the Big Issue, he said: “Speed ​​Reading is like dipping your toe in the water of books, and there are other barriers that can prevent people from being removed.

Other major barriers to frequent and long-term reading included lack of attention, time and representation.

Four out of 10 respondents to the Foundation’s survey who said they gave up before finishing books did so “because they lost interest”. One in five (22%) said that they do not have enough time to read, while 21% said that the cost of books is a reason that prevents them from buying books regularly.

Karen Napier, chief executive of the Reading Agency, said: “For 20 years, Quick Reads has shown that when books are accessible, relevant and easy to fit into busy lives, more people find the joy and power of reading.” What we found in our research shows that many adults want to read more, but factors such as limited time, competing interests and confidence can prevent them.

“We hope this donation helps develop a reading habit that lasts a lifetime, opening the door to new stories, new ideas and new experiences.”