An intensive investigation analyzing and summarizing the scientific research and professional literature on reading interests of secondary school students was undertaken with the ultimate goal of assembling data which could be used to improve teaching and learning in the area of reading. Using an historical approach, considerable attention was given to the nature and shortcomings of reading interest research, definitions of interests and their applicability to reading, methods for stimulating and developing reading interests, and the failure of adult-oriented reading material selection. Conclusions point to (1) the importance of sex, age, and intelligence as determinants of reading interests, in that order, (2) the imposition by adults of their likes and dislikes in reading upon students, (3) the steady decline in the amount of book reading done by high school students, (4) the need for a change in the rationale of literature courses, and for the use of appropriate materials for teenaged readers, and (5) the importance of interests to reading. (Author/MF)