UNITED STATES
                       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): January 20, 2006


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


          Delaware                       1-10434            13-1726769
(State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission File    (I.R.S. Employer
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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:

[ ] Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
    (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
    (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14a-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


                                                              Page 1 of 6 pages.







SECTION 5.        Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
                  Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

ITEM 5.02.        Election of Directors

         Furnished herewith are the following:

         Exhibit Number
                                           Description

         99.1            The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s news release,
                         issued on January 20, 2006, relating to election of
                         Eric W. Schrier to the Company's Board of Directors.


SECTION 7.        REGULATION FD

ITEM 7.01.        Regulation FD Disclosure.

         Furnished herewith are the following:

         Exhibit Number
                                           Description

         99.1           The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s news release,
                        issued on January 20, 2006, relating to election of
                        Eric W. Schrier to the Company's Board of Directors.









                                   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:  January 23, 2006
                                           /s/      Clifford H.R. DuPree
                                           ------------------------------------
                                                   Clifford H.R. DuPree
                                         Vice President, Corporate Secretary and
                                                 Associate General Counsel







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



         Exhibit Number
                                           Description

         99.1            The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s news release,
                         issued on January 20, 2006, relating to election of
                         Eric W. Schrier to the Company's Board of Directors.