The Hidden Cost of Not Reading
Read this on my website // Read time 4-6 minutes
Nearly half of all Americans finished ZERO books last year.
Reading 5 books per year puts you in the top 33 percent. Reading 10 books per year puts you in the top 21 percent. Reading 20, 30, or 40 books per year, puts you in rare company — among the top 10 percent of readers.
Which camp do you fall into?
Don’t worry, I’m not going to shame you, but I will challenge you.
You see, I didn’t used to read much…maybe a few books per year.
But several years ago, I decided I was going to be a reader.
That one decision changed my life.
Since then, I’ve steadily increased the amount of time I read each day which has led to more books read.
2025 is a little bit deceiving because I read two books that were 600 pages—which is really like three books in one. That brings me up to about 29 books for the year.
I’m proud of that, but I also don’t want to give you the wrong idea.
It’s less about the number of books you read and more about becoming a reader. More on that in a minute.
Are We Getting Dumber?
A recent article in the Economist highlighted some alarming trends. Multiple studies have concluded that adults, children, and teenagers are all reading less, and very small children are being read to less.
Reading to my children has been one of the joys of my life. In fact, it’s such fun that I just reinstated reading to my thirteen-year-old before bed. We are currently reading The Hobbit. Maybe thirteen seems a little old to you, but we both love it. If you’re familiar with Tolkien, there are lots of songs in his books, so I even dance and sing a little!
The article bluntly states, “Reading is in trouble.”:
- In America, the share of people who read for pleasure has fallen by two-fifths in 20 years
- Sentences are getting shorter and simpler. Hundreds of NY Times bestsellers were analyzed and found that sentences in popular books have contracted by almost a third since the 1930s.
- A review of nearly 250 years of U.S. presidential inaugural addresses revealed a drop from George Washington’s postgraduate-level score of about 28.7 to Donald Trump’s high-school-level score of about 9.4, illustrating a long-term decline in rhetorical complexity
It’s a fascinating read.
Even leaders don’t really read, and that sets them at a significant disadvantage.
Some of my best ideas come from cross-disciplinary reading. In other words, reading outside my zones of expertise or vocation.
No, I don’t read 50 or 100 books a year like some people. I can’t make that kind of time right now. That takes about an hour of reading per day.
I typically read about 24 books per year or two per month. I could read more, but many times I go deep on a few ideas from the book because I want to teach them to others—which means I have to slow down so I can truly understand the idea.
But it’s not about how many books you read.
Whether you read 1 page per day or 50, it’s less about how many books you read and more about becoming a reader.
Why Read?
#1 - Reading Makes You a Better Leader
A former mentor of mine said, “Leaders are readers.” I’ve adjusted it slightly to “Leaders are learners,” but the principle holds. With so many avenues—books, podcasts, programs, and courses—there’s no excuse not to learn, but reading physical books comes with special advantages.
Reading is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the brain, engaging the brain in complex neural activity that strengthens cognitive pathways or the “mental roads” your thoughts travel on. Reading makes those roads stronger and faster, enhances memory, and fosters imagination. Less reading leads to weaker cognitive function, shorter attention spans, and a diminished ability to process information deeply. Neuroscientifically, the brain's plasticity—the ability to adapt and grow—requires consistent intellectual stimulation. A decline in this practice can lead to a less informed and less innovative society, unable to address complex challenges effectively.
I see this firsthand in my coaching business. Being a reader allows me to stay sharp for my clients, process complex ideas, and draw on new and fresh ideas as well as proven time-tested ones.
#2 - Reading makes you healthier
My Nana was as sharp as a tack until the day she died at 92, and one of the key memories I have is her doing crossword puzzles every time I came to her house. From increased brain strength, empathy, sleep and life expectancy to less stress, depression, and cognitive decline as you age, reading is thought to come with many physical and mental benefits. Though crossword puzzles aren’t books, one could certainly say they are a form of reading.
All that by the simple act of reading. Seems like a small trade-off for so many benefits. I can personally attest to this. Reading makes you smarter and healthier.
#3 - Reading Makes You Smarter
When you read a book, you gain 2-3 years of accumulated knowledge. That’s how long the average book takes to research, write, and release. Beyond that, there are usually many more years of life experience embedded within its pages.
Sir Francis Bacon, the renowned scientist and philosopher, coined the phrase “knowledge is power.” He believed knowledge was an enabling force that helped people to make decisions, solve problems, and achieve their goals. Thus, “by acquiring knowledge, the individual acquires power.”
Of course, knowledge is useless if you don’t put it into practice. Wisdom and understanding are what happen when we apply the knowledge.
When I read a book, I’m looking for at least one takeaway that I can apply, unless it’s a good fiction book that I’m reading for enjoyment. Even then, I sometimes find myself marking pages, underlining quotes, or making notes for future use.
I go deeper into my notetaking system, the benefits of reading, and how to become a reader in this downloadable PDF.
Now, on to my favorite reads of 2025…
My Favorite Reads of 2025
Hopefully, you’ve been stirred to become a reader, which brings me to my favorite books of 2025. These books weren’t released in 2025, they were just the best ones I read in 202,5 in no particular order.
#1 - Jobs by Walter Isaacson
It's hard to summarize a person's life in one core idea, but if I had to, I'd say Jobs lived for innovation and focus. His ability to tune out the noise and stay laser-focused on the few products that would change everything was legendary.
But that singular focus came at a brutal cost. Jobs could make people believe they could do the impossible—and they did. But relationships? Not his strength. Building an enduring company where people made great products was everything. "Everything else was secondary," including the people closest to him.
#2 - The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
Rubin's big idea: creativity isn't a method you master—it's a way of being.
Instead of giving you a step-by-step process, Rubin explores what creativity looks like through different people and forms. The book reads like a devotional, with short chapters you can absorb daily for inspiration. Each one offers a fresh perspective on creativity as something alive, ever-changing, and growing.
#3 - The Genesee Diary by Henri Nouwen
Nouwen spent seven months at a Trappist monastery, trying to escape the frenetic pace of academia and ministry. I read the book while at the same monastery, The Abbey of the Genesee in Western, NY. What stuck with me most was this line: "When you want to hurry something, that means you no longer care about it, and want to get on to other things." That landed like a punch. Nouwen discovered that his need to achieve, to be recognized, to stay busy—all of it was disconnecting him from love itself.
The Benedictine rhythm of prayer, work, and rest wasn't just a nice monastic practice. It was the antidote to a life lived detached from God and people. Nouwen wrestled with whether he could bring this slower way back into his "real life." The question haunted him: Can you live contemplatively in an active world?
His honest answer: barely. But the trying matters.
#4 - Three Mile an Hour God by Koyami Kosuki
Koyama, a Japanese theologian, brings an Eastern perspective that shattered my Western theological assumptions. He weaves insights from Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism (without embracing universalism) to paint a fuller picture of God at work in the world. But the real gut punch? His unflinching examination of the injustices the Church has participated in—especially toward ethnic and religious minorities.
What stuck with me: Koyama's penetrating questions left me wrestling with my own complicity. He doesn't offer easy answers or seven-step solutions. Instead, he forces you to sit with the discomfort and ask yourself: How am I participating in injustice? How do I bring God's justice into the world?
Honestly? I'm still not sure. But the asking matters.
#5 - Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers
Sivers' philosophy is simple: if it's not a "hell yeah," it's a no.
The book is a collection of over 60 short chapters—life wisdom condensed into bite-sized pieces you can read daily. Wide-ranging and thought-provoking, Sivers challenges you to think more deeply about what you're doing, why you're doing it, and whether it's actually worth doing at all.
What stuck with me: His relentless clarity about priorities. Most of us say yes to things that are merely "fine" or "good enough," filling our lives with mediocre commitments. Sivers strips away the noise and asks the hard question: Is this a hell yeah? If not, why are you doing it?
It's a gold mine for anyone drowning in obligations they never really wanted in the first place.
Honorable Mentions
#1 - Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
#2 - Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Your Rhythms Check
This is about your Emotional and Mental rhythms and the practices that protect your mental clarity and creative capacity.
If you don't become a reader, your brain will continue weakening. Your ideas will stay shallow. Your leadership will plateau. You'll keep grinding harder while thinking slower.
But if you commit to becoming a reader... you'll strengthen neural pathways that make complex thinking easier. You'll gain years of compressed wisdom from leaders who've walked ahead of you. You'll process stress better, sleep more deeply, and lead with more creativity.
Your reading habits determine whether you're building mental capacity or burning it down.
This week's rhythm: Choose one book that you already have and read one page today, maybe before bed or with your morning coffee. Do this for seven days straight and notice what happens to your mental clarity.
When was the last time you read something that actually changed how you think—not just informed you, but transformed you?
Hit reply and tell me: What book did you pick up? Or if you're already a reader, what's the one book that changed your leadership? I read every response.
Until next time,
PS - My new e-book, On Becoming a Reader: Unlocking the Power of Reading, shows you how to become a reader using simple, science-backed strategies that actually work. No guilt. No overwhelm. Just one page at a time, starting today.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you...
- Try the 5-minute REST Assessment to identify exactly where you are on the burnout scale—from Thriving to Critical—so you can take the next right step.
- Transform those anxiety-filled, rushed mornings into your foundation for daily success with my course, Win the Morning, Win the Day!
- Schedule a Discovery Call to find out if executive coaching is for you - for business owners or executives
- Catalyze your organization - invite me to do a keynote or workshop
Sources
“Most Americans Didn’t Read Many Books in 2025,” https://yougovamerica.substack.com/p/most-americans-didnt-read-many-books
Dr. Thomas H. Agrait https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/negative-impact-decline-reading-society-perspective-dr-thomas-h--bdmre/
“Is the Decline of Reading Making Politics Dumber?” https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/09/04/is-the-decline-of-reading-making-politics-dumber
“Benefits of Reading Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life,” https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books#takeaway
“What Did Francis Bacon Mean by Knowledge Is Power?” https://www.thecollector.com/francis-bacon-knowledge-is-power/