Many residents of Kabul worry that the culture of reading is disappearing. They see fewer job opportunities, rising unemployment among educated youth, a lack of transparency in hiring, deepening poverty, and the strict educational and professional limits imposed by the Taliban as major reasons for this decline. They believe that rebuilding a community that values learning requires thoughtful planning and real, targeted action. Some also say that the family should be the starting point for encouraging reading because a love of books begins at home, in the small spaces where daily life unfolds.
People across the city repeat the same concerns. They explain how shrinking job prospects, growing poverty, and the restrictions placed on education have slowly drained the energy of Kabul’s readers. Without addressing these core problems, they say, it will be hard for reading to flourish again.
Dua, a young woman barred from continuing her studies, blames the fading reading culture on the Taliban’s bans. She lost her excitement for learning the day universities closed.
“I used to read every day,” she says. “I could not even rest without holding a book. Now I barely study. When I pick one up, I feel tired and sleepy. I do not know why. Maybe our minds are worn out, or maybe the sound of reading has gone quiet across society.”
Another young resident, Elham Ayoub, sees a different obstacle. He believes many young people have lost hope in education because even those with degrees cannot find jobs. He says the government must listen to young people, understand what they need, and give them learning and work opportunities that make reading meaningful again.
“The biggest problem is that young people feel no motivation to study,” he explains. “Most educated youth are unemployed, and many think working brings more success than studying. I believe the government must support young people and encourage them so that reading can become part of our lives again.”
Another Kabul resident adds that many families are too overwhelmed by daily survival to think about reading. “People are focused on finding food and necessities,” he says. “When you ask them why they do not read, they say they first need to feed their families. When basic needs are not met, people have no patience, energy, or money left for books. That is why many believe reading rarely leads to success in our country.”
Meanwhile, Zahir, a longtime bookseller, sees the decline from behind his stall. He says it has been months since he sold even one book. As he talks to three young women browsing titles, their faces show no spark of interest.
“In one or two months, only a couple of people come,” he says with a heavy sigh. “They look at the books and leave without buying. Many of our books are leftovers from the Republic. I even see young people trying to sell their own books, but no real buyers come. It feels like the passion for reading is disappearing, and people no longer value books the way they once did.”
But not everyone has turned away from reading. Haya, a young woman devoted to books, says that when schools and universities closed, her books became her escape from loneliness and sadness.
“Every time I read, I learn something new,” she says. “That keeps me motivated. I read two to three hours a day and never go a day without reading at least one page. I always turn to my books because they make life feel brighter.”
Haya also challenges those who say they have no time to read. “Some people say they are too busy,” she explains. “That is not a good excuse. If someone truly wants to read, they can find five or ten minutes a day, even right before bed.”
Rusta, a 16-year-old girl, believes that reading habits start with family. She says families play the biggest role in shaping children’s interests because they are the first people children look up to.
“When I saw everyone at home glued to the TV or their phones, I felt it was fine for me to do the same,” she says. “It made it hard for me to focus on reading. But when I see my family learning and reading, I feel pushed to improve myself too.”
Rusta shares another discovery. “I used to think I did not like reading because I always got sleepy. Later, I realized the problem was not me. It was the books. I tried reading titles like The Suicide Shop or Smile at Life, but they did not hold my attention. Then I found out I enjoy crime novels.”
In recent years, reading in Afghanistan has struggled to survive. The closure of schools and universities, high unemployment, financial hardships, and the growing hopelessness of young people have all combined to strip away the motivation needed to keep the culture of reading alive.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
کاهش فرهنگ مطالعه در کابل؛ بیکاری و محدودیتها انگیزه کتابخوانی را کاهش دادهاند
