Young Nigerian writer and book influencer, Ezioma Kalu, spoke on News Central’s Jasiri on Tuesday about the power of reading and its impact on personal growth and empathy.
She highlighted how reading has helped her understand that people have different perspectives, making her less judgmental.
“It’s easy to judge a situation without fully understanding it. Just because something is normal to you doesn’t mean it’s the same for others,” she explained.
Reading, she added, has enabled her to empathise with people and consider the motivations behind their actions before forming opinions.
“I empathise with people,” she said. “…I don’t judge people like that because I don’t know what prompted them to do or to take certain decisions. So that’s one major reason why I read books.”
Ezioma Kalu ignited widespread online discussion after revealing that she had read 150 books in 2024, a significant increase from the 122 she read in 2023. Her achievement was widely celebrated, with many praising her dedication and passion for reading.
Discussing her reading habits, Kalu revealed that she enjoys both print and e-books but prefers the experience of flipping through physical pages.
“I like flipping pages,” she said.
She noted that while some people read simply for the sake of reading—such as in preparation for exams without truly assimilating information—she takes a different approach.
Kalu actively engages with the books she reads by reviewing them on social media.
“After each book, I review it, analysing the characters, the plot, and all the details,” she said.
Through this, she ensures she absorbs the lessons and insights from each story while sharing her perspective with a wider audience.
