-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QDoq1+5EFW1L6+yQwNTIjZUnUNWmYxf1oXF9A+KCiNJOh+OXHEPcjqAUa+C7RpgU
 degZmD9YfJHN8KsK56PTYQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-040368.txt : 20040811
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-040368.hdr.sgml : 20040811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040811141634
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-040368
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040809
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040811

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANONIK FRANCOISE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001278434

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10434
		FILM NUMBER:		04966669

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		READERS DIGEST RD
		CITY:			PLEASANTVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10570

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			READERS DIGEST ASSOCIATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000858558
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2731]
		IRS NUMBER:				131726769
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		READERS DIGEST ROAD
		CITY:			PLEASANTVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10570
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9142381000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bny00209hanonik_bny001.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000858558</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>READERS DIGEST ASSOCIATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RDA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278434</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANONIK FRANCOISE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>READER'S DIGEST ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANTVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10570-7000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1089</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.36</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20038</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>645.6289</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2052</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock granted under The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Key Employee Long Term Incentive Plans.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting person's proportionate interest in the shares held in the Stock Fund of The Employee Ownership Plan and The 401(k) Partnership of The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ C.H.R. DuPree as attorney-in-fact to Francoise Hanonik</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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