Krish Dhokia 
This article accompanies the full episode of This with Krish, embedded below. Watch or listen while you read for a deeper, long‑form conversation on literacy, reading, family, and freedom.
A Personal Wake‑Up Call: 52 Books in One Year
Last year, I made a decision that surprised even me.
I committed to reading one book a week.
Not summaries. Not headlines. Not audiobooks playing in the background while I multitasked. Real books. Pages. Chapters. Covers that close.
By the end of the year, I had read 52 books.
That was 52 more books than I read the year before.
This wasn’t about becoming an intellectual or checking off a productivity box. It was about reclaiming something I felt slipping away: attention, depth, and clarity. And what started as a personal challenge quickly became a lens through which I could no longer ignore a much larger issue — the decline of reading and literacy in America.
The Night That Changed How I Saw Literacy
About ten years ago, when my wife and I were living in Atlanta, we were invited — last minute — to a formal gala fundraiser. We didn’t know much about the event, but we said yes. If we’re being honest, the appeal was dressing up and getting out for the night.
As the evening unfolded, we realized the event wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was hosted by a literacy guild, and the stories being shared were staggering.
Speaker after speaker highlighted a reality most Americans rarely confront: millions of adults in the United States struggle with basic reading skills. Not advanced comprehension — basic, functional literacy.
Many adults can sign their name but struggle to read a lease, understand a prescription label, complete official forms, or read to their own children.
That night planted a seed. Literacy isn’t loud. It doesn’t trend. But its absence quietly limits opportunity, independence, and dignity.
The Numbers We Can’t Ignore
The data surrounding literacy and reading in America paints a troubling picture:
- Roughly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. has low literacy skills
- An estimated 43 million adults struggle with basic reading comprehension
- National reading scores for 4th, 8th, and 12th graders have declined in recent years
- Reading for pleasure among Americans has dropped sharply over the last two decades
- Teenagers average single‑digit minutes per day reading outside of school
Key Resources:
- National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): https://nces.ed.gov/
- U.S. Department of Education – Adult Literacy: https://www.ed.gov/literacy
- OECD Literacy Data (PIAAC): https://www.oecd.org/skills/piaac/
These aren’t abstract statistics. Literacy impacts employment, health outcomes, civic participation, and economic mobility. When literacy declines, inequality expands.
A Quiet Moment That Spoke Volumes
Years ago, we were invited to our neighbors’ home for lunch. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the food — it was the books.
Books everywhere. Shelves. Tables. Corners. A home designed around reading.
I remember thinking, “I wish I had time to read.”
That sentence stuck with me. Because what I was really saying was, I admire this — but I don’t live this way.
That moment helped me realize something important: reading is rarely about time; it’s about priority.
Why Reading Feels Different Now
When you read consistently, something shifts.
Your mind slows down — in a good way. You become less reactive. You finish thoughts instead of skimming them.
Reading trains patience.
I’ve noticed that some of the most effective leaders, thinkers, and communicators I know are deeply well‑read. You can hear it in how they speak, how they pause, how they process complexity instead of rushing to judgment.
This is why reading is so closely tied to:
- Critical thinking
- Discernment
- Leadership
- Emotional regulation
- Long‑term decision‑making
Reading doesn’t just make you more informed. It makes you harder to manipulate.
The Power of Physical Books
There is something uniquely powerful about a physical book.
A book has weight. Presence. Progress you can see and feel.
It doesn’t vibrate. It doesn’t interrupt you. It doesn’t pull you into a thousand competing directions.
A physical book asks for your attention — and rewards it.
This is why we intentionally created a reading room in our home. Not for aesthetics, but for culture. A visible signal that reading matters here.
Reading and Family Culture
Children don’t do what we say — they imitate what we do.
When kids see adults reading, reading becomes normal. When they don’t, screens fill the gap.
In our home, reading is visible. And it shows.
Our kids interrupt us with books in hand. They associate reading with connection, attention, and warmth.
We also read the children’s Bible together in the evenings — not perfectly, not every night — but consistently enough to matter. Faith itself is a reading faith. Scripture requires attention, reflection, and depth.
Literacy Is Freedom
Literacy isn’t about sounding smart.
It’s about:
- Understanding contracts
- Interpreting information
- Spotting manipulation
- Navigating systems
- Teaching yourself new skills
If you can read well, you can learn almost anything.
If you can’t, the world becomes a maze with hidden traps.
This is why literacy is not just an education issue — it’s a freedom issue.
How to Start (Without Overwhelm)
You don’t need to read 52 books a year to benefit.
Start small:
- One book a month
- 10–20 pages a day
- A dedicated reading time
Put the book where your habits already live — by your chair, bed, or coffee maker. If the book is hidden, your phone will win.
What matters most isn’t speed. It’s consistency.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
We live in an era of constant noise, short‑form content, and instant reaction.
Reading pushes back against that.
It builds thinkers instead of reactors. Builders instead of consumers. Leaders instead of followers.
If we want a healthier culture, stronger families, and more resilient individuals, reading must return to the center of our lives.
Watch the Full Episode
Final Thought
Being well‑read isn’t about being impressive.
It’s about being free.
Free to think clearly. Free to lead wisely. Free to raise children who can discern truth.
And that is why the decline of reading in America should scare us — and motivate us to do something about it.
About the Author
