Data from a recent survey on reading among Brazilians reveal several habits and behaviors. The sixth edition of the Brazilian Reading Portraits survey indicates that fewer and fewer people are reading books. At least 53% of those interviewed did not read even part of a work in the three months preceding the survey.
The survey was conducted by the Ipec Institute (Intelligence in Surveys and Consulting) and involved 5,504 respondents during home visits across 208 Brazilian municipalities, between April 30 and July 31, 2024. Despite a general decline in readership, there is a notable interest in religious books. In terms of preferred genres, religious works rank fourth, following romance, short stories, and interestingly, the Bible. This trend has been consistent since evaluations were conducted in 2011.
Impact of Influential Books: Survey Insights and Distribution Efforts
The survey presents a list of the 28 books that had the greatest impact on the opinions of the respondents. The question asked was: “What is the book that left the greatest mark on you, or that you most enjoyed reading?” The first book on the list is the Bible. Notably, in 25th place is The Great Controversy, written by Ellen G. White, a pioneer and writer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When participants were asked about the book they were currently reading, The Great Controversy rose to second place, second only to the Bible.
According to the Brazilian Publishing House, a Seventh-day Adventist publisher in Brazil, the book has been available in Portuguese since 1920. To date, 34,450,000 copies have been produced. In 2022 and 2023, Seventh-day Adventists around the globe distributed The Great Controversy free of charge. In South America, the initiative for the free and widespread distribution of the book is called Impacto Esperança (Impact Hope).
Ellen White
Adventist author Ellen White, who wrote more than 100,000 pages, especially during the 19th century, also appears in one of the survey’s rankings. She is second among the 26 authors cited as the last book the person read. First up, the survey lists the apostles as authors, likely a reference to the Bible. Seven authors of works considered religious are listed.
The Great Controversy details the influence of spiritual forces on the most decisive episodes of human history. The book answers questions such as, “What is the origin of evil?” “Will this world last forever?” and “Is there hope for a better future for humanity?”
Stanley Arco, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America, says that the survey is a cause for double celebration. He highlights that the fact that the Bible is among the most read books by people indicates a concern among many Brazilians for reading “a life-changing book.” “At the same time, it is very significant that a work like The Great Controversy is among the most remembered. It is a work that presents a unique prophetic panorama and confirms God’s guidance in human life at all times,” the Adventist leader emphasizes.
The original article was published on the South American Division website.
