Only 16 percent of Americans read for personal interest or pleasure

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14. Ask your friends, acquaintances, even relatives to read something out loud -- you may be shocked at the result.

If "US" is those of us who were taught by our parents to read as soon as we were capable, you're right, reading is faster than talking.

For those whose parents waited to let their teachers teach them how to read, not so. I remember being astounded at my fellow students in high school who couldn't read out loud without stumbling over simple words. The disadvantage of a late start may be something they never overcome.

(Reading transcripts, double-timing video, yeah, I do all that. I started studying speed reading in high school (maybe a little earlier) and sat through a training class where I finished early when the system maxed out at 2000 wpm. I can't do that well anymore because of poorer eyesight, but it just emphasizes reading is AN UNNATURAL ACT, which you can only learn to do well with adequate training and practice. Very few people get much training at all, besides "monkey see, monkey do" from their parents, who are just doing things the way people have always done them.