According to the ARRL VEC more than 30,000 new licenses were issued in 2009.
Apparently, the restructuring of the licensing process by the FCC in 2007 has elevated the demand for exam sessions and this past year was a banner year for new Amateur Radio licensees.

ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM said. “This high level of exam session activity has produced an elevated influx of new applications, far outpacing recent years.”
30,144 licenses were granted in 2009 which is an increase of about 7.5 percent over 2008. 16,368 licenses were issued in 2005 showing that the restructuring has caused an impressive 84 percent gain over 2005.
Other than the standard books which are always available, there are other ways to study for your license.
If the idea of downloading and learning from an audio source appeals to you try visiting http://fccexam.com/