The Cost of a Culture That Doesn't Read

Jun 13 , 2026
By Eden Sahle

---

A child's first exposure to reading often comes from home rather than school. Parents who model reading behaviour can influence educational outcomes, intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning habits. Reading offers benefits ranging from academic achievement to improved mental well-being and critical thinking. Yet growing digital distractions compete for attention and reduce time spent with books. Building future generations of innovators and professionals requires strengthening reading culture at the household level.

---

In Ethiopia, one of the most surprising statements heard in everyday conversation is people proudly declaring that they do not like reading books. It is often said casually, even humorously, as if avoiding books is a badge of honour rather than a missed opportunity. Yet this attitude raises an important question: how do so many people spend years in school and still develop a dislike for reading?

The answer often begins long before a child enters a classroom.

Reading habits rarely appear by accident. Children learn from what they see around them. In homes where books are present, where parents read regularly and curiosity is encouraged, children are far more likely to become readers themselves. In homes where television, smartphones and other forms of entertainment dominate daily life, reading often becomes an afterthought.

The influence of family is difficult to overstate.

My own reading habit takes me back to childhood. My father was an avid reader. Reading was not something he occasionally did; it was part of his daily routine. As a child, he bought me countless fairytale books and story collections. As I grew older, he introduced me to newspapers, magazines, history books, biographies and many other forms of literature from his personal collection.

Those books did far more than occupy my childhood. They shaped the way I think, learn and understand the world. They introduced me to Ethiopian history, world history, different cultures and new ways of thinking. They strengthened my language skills, expanded my vocabulary and improved my ability to express ideas clearly.

The impact on my education was noticeable. I spent only a few months in kindergarten because my teachers believed I was ready for Grade One. Unlike many of my peers, I could already read, write and communicate confidently.

Research supports what many parents observe. Children who are read to regularly develop stronger language skills and larger vocabularies. Reading stimulates brain development and improves concentration, memory and critical thinking. Children who grow up around books are also more likely to perform better academically throughout their lives.

One of the things I remain most grateful for is that my father taught by example. He never spoke about the importance of reading without practising it himself. Whether the subject was history, religion, politics, law or science, he was always reading something. I rarely saw his hands empty. There was almost always a book, magazine or newspaper nearby.

His reading habit gave him a remarkable breadth of knowledge. He frequently surprised people with how much he knew about subjects far beyond his profession. Because he read widely, he could discuss topics from many fields with confidence and depth. I enjoyed listening to him explain world events, Ethiopian and global history, and social issues. In many ways, he taught me more about history and the arts than I learned in primary and secondary school.

When I entered law school, I was amazed by his understanding of legal concepts. He was not a lawyer, yet years of reading had given him substantial knowledge of the field. His example taught me an important lesson: education does not end when formal schooling ends. Reading allows people to continue learning throughout their lives.

Its benefits extend far beyond academic achievement. Reading strengthens analytical thinking, improves problem-solving abilities and exposes people to different perspectives. It can also increase empathy by helping readers understand experiences different from their own.

Reading reduces stress, improves focus and can contribute to better mental well-being. In an age of constant digital distraction, books offer a rare opportunity for sustained concentration. Social media encourages rapid scrolling and fragmented attention. Books train the mind to engage deeply with information.

Yet many people are moving in the opposite direction.

Hours that could be spent reading are often consumed by endless television programmes, social media feeds and online videos. Entertainment has its place. The problem begins when passive consumption completely replaces active learning.

Many adults claim they do not have time to read. Yet some of the same people spend hours every day scrolling through their phones or watching one television series after another. Time is often less of an obstacle than priorities. Reading does not require large blocks of free time. Fifteen or twenty minutes a day can be enough to complete several books over the course of a year.

The consequences extend beyond the individual. Children imitate what they see. Parents who never read should not be surprised when their children show little interest in books. Habits are often passed from one generation to the next.

I see this reality in my own home. My two-year-old daughter, Gabriella, has already been exposed to more books than many adults. Every morning she wakes up, greets us, gives us a kiss and a hug, and often walks straight toward her books. She sits down, turns the pages and pretends to read. My husband, Mike, and I find this both heartwarming and encouraging. Her interest developed because reading is normal in our home. She sees adults reading and naturally wants to imitate that behaviour.

My experience is not unique. My longtime friend, Albab Tesfaye, is also an enthusiastic reader. Like me, she grew up surrounded by books. Her love of reading contributed to her creativity, intelligence and curiosity about the world. Her story reinforces the same lesson: reading habits are usually cultivated long before adulthood.

Reading remains one of the most effective ways to expand knowledge and develop new skills. People who avoid reading miss opportunities to strengthen their expertise, improve their creativity and broaden their understanding of the world around them.

Perhaps the most troubling trend is not that some people do not read, but that they openly celebrate not reading. Such declarations suggest indifference toward personal growth and lifelong learning. Books contain the accumulated wisdom, discoveries, experiences and ideas of humanity. To reject reading is to close the door on countless opportunities for development.

If Ethiopia hopes to produce future innovators, leaders, writers, scientists and professionals, a stronger reading culture is essential. Schools have an important role to play, but families have an even greater one. Parents do not need to be professors or scholars. Simply reading regularly, keeping books at home and encouraging curiosity can leave a lasting mark on a child's future.

The lesson is simple: readers are not born; they are raised. A child who grows up seeing books valued is far more likely to value them as an adult. In a world overflowing with distractions, choosing to read remains one of the most powerful investments a person can make in their mind, their future and the generations that follow.

---

PUBLISHED ON Jun 13,2026 [ VOL 27 , NO 1363]

---

[ssba-buttons]