SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT


                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 29, 2004


                     THE READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                       1-10434             13-1726769
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission File      (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)       Number)        Identification Number)




            Pleasantville, New York                10570-7000
    (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)


              Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                (914) 238-1000






                                                            Page 1 of 27 pages.





ITEM 7.    Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

      (a)  Financial statements of business acquired
           Not applicable

      (b)  Pro forma financial information
           Not applicable

      (c)  Exhibits

           Furnished herewith are the following:

           Number                   Description

            99.1    The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s news release,
                    issued on July 29, 2004, relating to earnings.

            99.2    Remarks delivered by Thomas O. Ryder, Chairman and Chief
                    Executive Officer, to analysts and investors on July 29,
                    2004.

            99.3    Remarks delivered by Michael S. Geltzeiler, Senior Vice
                    President and Chief Financial Officer, to analysts and
                    investors on July 29, 2004.

ITEM 9.    Regulation FD Disclosure.

      Furnished herewith are the following:

      Remarks delivered to analysts and investors by Thomas O. Ryder, Chairman
      and Chief Executive Officer, on July 29, 2004 (Exhibit 99.2)

      Remarks delivered to analysts and investors by Michael S. Geltzeiler,
      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, on July 29, 2004
      (Exhibit 99.3)

      See also Item 12 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

      The information contained in this Item 9, including the exhibits
      furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K, shall not be deemed to
      be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act
      of 1934, as amended.

ITEM 12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

      Furnished herewith are the following:

      The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s news release, issued on July 29,
      2004, relating to earnings (Exhibit 99.1)

      The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K under this
      Item 12, including the exhibits furnished herewith, is being furnished
      under this Item 12 and is also intended to be furnished under Item 9
      "Regulation FD Disclosure."  Such information shall not be deemed to be
      "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
      1934, as amended.










                                  SIGNATURES

           Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                            THE READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.
                                               (Registrant)


Date:  July 29, 2004
                                    /s/   C.H.R. DUPREE
                                               C.H.R. DuPree
                                  Vice President, Corporate Secretary and
                                         Associate General Counsel







                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.                         Description

  99.1      The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s news release, issued on
            July 29, 2004, relating to earnings.

  99.2      Remarks delivered by Thomas O. Ryder, Chairman and Chief Executive
            Officer, to analysts and investors on July 29, 2004.

  99.3      Remarks delivered by Michael S. Geltzeiler, Senior Vice President
            and Chief Financial Officer, to analysts and investors on July 29,
            2004.