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
      September 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:  November 4, 2004




                                                 /s/ THOMAS O. RYDER
                                                   Thomas O. Ryder



                                              /s/ MICHAEL S. GELTZEILER
                                                Michael S. Geltzeiler