Sharing with the press about the movie "The Four Guardians" (released on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2025), director Tran Thanh admitted that he has never read a whole book, and he has never had the patience to read a whole page of a book.
The moral quotes that his characters express in the movies, he draws from his own life experiences, not from some book.
Previously, Miss Ky Duyen also received mixed reactions when she admitted that she "has not finished reading a single book" because she prefers to learn through images and sounds.
First of all, it must be affirmed that reading is a personal choice and hobby. There is no mandatory standard that one must read many books to be good or successful.
In fact, Tran Thanh has built a solid reputation in the entertainment industry with a series of impressive achievements: from the role of MC to actor and film director.
Ky Duyen has also demonstrated her ability and bravery many times on stage and in television shows.
That means “not finishing a book” doesn’t stand in the way of their success.
However, the controversial issue is the influence of stars on audiences, especially young people. Assertive statements such as "never read a book" or "never finished a book" easily create the false impression that "you don't need to read books to be successful".
At an age when they are not experienced enough, many people can imitate their idols in an extreme way. As a result, they lose the opportunity to access knowledge through books - an important channel that humanity has accumulated and refined over many generations.
In fact, reading culture in Vietnam is facing a "downhill" situation: The number of people who regularly read books is low, many people only skim through short news on the Internet, lacking the patience to stick with a whole book.
In that context, influencers should be even more careful with their views and how they share.
Of course, no one forces artists to become “bookworms”. But if they can inspire and encourage the spirit of reading - or at least not overshadow the role of books - they will contribute positively to building reading habits in the community. And they themselves can also become a better version of themselves.
Tran Thanh himself has achieved many successes. However, if he spent more time reading books, perhaps the stories or skills that books bring will help him expand his worldview, perfect his thinking, and practice more deeply.
There is nothing wrong with artists and celebrities not reading books. However, as public figures, any statement needs to be mindful of the negative impact on the community. Especially when we are trying to promote reading culture - one of the foundations to improve people's knowledge.
Although not the only measure of intelligence, books are still a treasure trove of the ability to cultivate personality, nurture thinking, and broaden vision that few other means can replace.
