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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004
      (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:  September 8, 2004




                                         /s/ THOMAS O. RYDER
                                           Thomas O. Ryder



                                      /s/ MICHAEL S. GELTZEILER
                                        Michael S. Geltzeiler