Exhibit 32

            CERTIFICATIONS OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORT


      We, Thomas O. Ryder and Michael S. Geltzeiler, of The
Reader's Digest Association, Inc., certify, pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)   the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
      ended March 31, 2005 (the "Periodic Report") which this
      statement accompanies fully complies with the requirements
      of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
      1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) and

(2)   information contained in the Periodic Report fairly
      presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
      and results of operations of The Reader's Digest
      Association, Inc.

This certificate is being furnished solely for purposes of
Section 906 and is not being filed as part of the Periodic Report.


Dated:  May 4, 2005




                                         /s/ THOMAS O. RYDER
                                           Thomas O. Ryder



                                      /s/ MICHAEL S. GELTZEILER
                                        Michael S. Geltzeiler