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American literacy is far from so certain, especially since there are different degrees of literacy. And there have been recent studies (one in 2003 and another in 2005) which have suggested that as much as 20% of American adults are functionally illiterate with a capability of reading and writing that doesn't extend much beyond writing a check and reading a menu. Another 20% are also incapable of reading and comprehending beyond a 1-2 page article (in other words, something condensed and simplified). If these studies are accurate, that would suggest that 40% of the American population couldn't actually read and comprehend at a level that would allow them to enjoy a novel.
And literacy itself is worthless if one doesn't possess the reasoning abilities to take what they encounter and utilize it effectively. So what if a person can read a book? If they can't take the information in that book and draw conclusions from it that are supported by the facts they've got on hand, being able to read the book didn't do them an ounce of good. That's where Americans are really lacking. They're not stupid, but they simply haven't been taught to or encouraged to reason.
Take care,
Jason
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