When I published my first book, politeness draped over cynicism was the overriding reaction, more of the former than the latter, but the idea that people don’t read books any more tainted a lot of the enthusiasm for the project.
In these days of scrolling, turning pages has lost some of its former appeal, and for many, all of its former magic, as ten-second videos on Tiktok get more views than all but the most successful of best-sellers.
This is not a uniquely Kazakh problem, as, according to The Times of Central Asia, many university students in the USA openly admit that they have never read a book, the indispensable dopamine hit available far quicker via a screen – and less effort involved.
Unperturbed, I continued the series, did not seek a publisher, but investigated the feasibility of self-publishing and retaining total control over the project, cover to cover. The costs of printing dissuaded me more than any veiled pessimism from friendly taxi drivers or former colleagues who still promised to buy copies, and in the end, the titles were donated for free to a national online library called Kitap.
Yet through it all, statistics shared by the Kitap.kz project manager show that, perhaps, taxi drivers aren’t fully in the picture about the country’s reading habits, and that turning pages is still an activity treasured by thousands of people here, of all ages. Perhaps not enough, but the practice hasn’t disappeared entirely, and there are grounds for optimism.
Kazakhstan has recognised that this is something worth preserving, and that reading is crucial to the country and the people on so many levels. As a result, an initiative is being developed to ensure that books both regain and retain their place in the culture, all backed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who said:
“A culture of reading, as a recognised indicator of a high-quality nation, must remain an integral part of our behavioural code amid total digitalisation and the dominance of AI.”
As a response to more depressing trends globally, the Reading Nation concept was announced by President Tokayev in Spring 2026, with the intention of promoting a reading culture in the country, and when fully implemented, will include ten Reader of the Year awards. It is hoped that Kazakhstan will become one of the top ten reading countries in the world.
Admirable, although not something that will happen overnight, as in 2024, Kazakhstan ranked among the lowest-reading nations, with the average person reading 2.77 books per year.
As part of the initiative, many physical libraries are undergoing modernisation, and a national electronic library is being implemented. More attention will also be paid to National Book and Librarians’ Day, which dates back to 2024, since when many more have come to accept that books are not just a way to pass the time – they are critical to the future prospects of the country.
Meanwhile, the uptake in e-books has gained pace as over 3.6 million views have been recorded since the start of 2026, proving that interest in reading is there, or at least, can be rekindled and harnessed for the greater good if titles are made available and youngsters are encouraged.
Not enjoying reading is a common excuse among British kids, a reasonable one if you consider that many people there are introduced to books at a young age and told what to read. But they are often far too quick to decide. Who listens to one song and decides they don’t like music? There are millions of books, something for everybody, so moving to make a wide library available to young people is a sensible investment in the future.
Of the many benefits, reading is said to be good for cognitive function; it improves vocabulary, communication skills, and enhances imagination, which Einstein described as more important than knowledge. People who read a lot invariably have better general knowledge, often experience lower stress levels, have stronger memories, and, perhaps less verifiable by science, live so many lives by immersing themselves in the story of every book they pick up. Put simply, reading is good!
Doubtless Groucho Marx would agree:
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
