Almost 1 in 4 American has not read a book in the past year.

That actually seems high to me.

I bet it's even fewer than that.

So to find out, this afternoon, we sent a team out to the street.

To ask pedestrians to name a book.

Any book.

Could be The Bible.

Could be "Fifty Shades of Gray".

All we wanted to know is "Can you name a book?"

And here is how that went.

Can you name a book?

Oh, yes.

Uh... uh... I don't read books.

But... what's it called?

Can you name a book?

Uh... no.

Can you name a book?

Um... uh... I don't read books.

Yeah, that's it.

A book?

"The Lion King"

The movie?

Yeah, the book.

You read the book "The Lion King"?

Yeah.

Let me just think.

Uh... hey, hold on, man.

I'm trying... I mean.. hold on, let me think, hold on.

Can we cut this and do it again?

Can you name a book?

A book? Any book?

Um... "The Jungle Book".

It's not a book, is it?

It's a movie.

"The Jungle Book".

Sure.

Is it?

Both.

Are you sure?

No.

Does... do magazines count?

No, those wouldn't be books.

That's correct.

I can name "Moby Dick".

That's an artist.

He wrote a book called "Horse", I liked that book.

Moby Dick was the author?

Yes.

The book was "horse"?

Yes.

That's what I said.

What was the last book you read?

Um.. probably Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss, maybe.

I haven't read a book for like 12 years.

I'm drawing a blank.

Geez.

I need books.

Sorry.

I am totally blanking out on books.

What do you do for a living?

I was a librarian.

All you have to do is pick up a book.

'Cause when you know how to read, adventures come to you.

That's right.

Thank you, Shaq.

Not only do Shaq read books, he eats them.