In the digital arena, where virality is often fueled by mockery, the reaction to Root 100 honoree Kai Cenat sharing his reading journey was predictable. Yet, beneath the surface-level trolling lies a significant and under-discussed cultural event: a top-tier influencer modeling intellectual curiosity for a generation often accused of having a declining attention span.
In a now-deleted Instagram story, the record-breaking Twitch streamer made a simple, powerful observation: “Noticed I’ve been speaking better because I’ve been reading.” This wasn’t a boast about finishing Ulysses; the book in question was James Clear’s bestselling self-help guide, Atomic Habits. The internet’s response was swift and, in typical fashion, dismissive. But this dismissal misses the profound importance of the moment.
Why is this significant? First, it shatters the monolithic stereotype of the “gamer” or “streamer.” Cenat, whose content is built on high-energy entertainment, publicly acknowledged that a quiet, solitary activity was tangibly improving his core skill—communication. For his audience of millions, predominantly Gen Z and younger, this reframes reading not as a scholastic chore, but as a practical tool for self-improvement and professional success. It validates the idea that the skills built in the digital world can be enhanced by analog habits.
“Flexing a book that every teenage boy buys when they get 2 am motivation,” wrote one user.
“Grabbed the first thing off the shelf at Target,” wrote another.
“That f*** a** book lmao might as well read green eggs and ham,” added another.
However, while people online attempt to gain likes by poking fun at Cenat, there is one glaring question they should be asking themselves: Why are we making fun of others for trying to be better?
Sure, “Atomic Habits” might not be regarded as a challenging literary classic such as “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston or “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, but that does not mean Cenat’s efforts should be dismissed and pushed aside.
Across the United States, there is a concerning literacy crisis. Studies show 32% of high school seniors scoring below the basic level on reading proficiency tests, which is the lowest level since 1992, according to CNN. And as of 2025, reading for pleasure in the U.S. has fallen by 40%, with bigger drops seen across the Black community, especially among Black men, according to The Guardian.
Therefore, when you consider someone like Kai Cenat, who has a predominantly teenage fanbase and over 20 million followers on Twitch, along with 18 million followers across both his Instagram accounts, his influence on others—teenagers especially—cannot be dismissed.
If something as simple as a story about reading on Cenat’s Instagram can be reposted across social media platforms, the streamer will also affect the way folks choose to engage with books. The proof is in the pudding; one user on X said they are considering buying “Atomic Habits” after seeing Cenat reading it.
“I seen Kai Cenat post that Atomic Habits book for building good habits and breaking bad ones, and ppl saying it’s good sooo I think I needa tap in,” they wrote.
The choice of Atomic Habits is itself a masterclass in relatability. The book’s central thesis—that monumental change comes from the compound effect of small, daily routines—directly parallels the grind of building a streaming career or any personal brand. Cenat didn’t post about an obscure philosophical text; he chose a mainstream, accessible entry point into non-fiction. This lowers the barrier to entry for his fans. The mocking question, “How can I get the e-book?” while likely sarcastic, underscores a potential reality: his post alone may have driven thousands of his followers to look up the book, a phenomenon known as the “Kai Cenat bump.”
Critiquing the type of book someone reads is a form of intellectual gatekeeping that ultimately harms literacy advocacy. The goal is to foster a habit of reading, not to police its starting point. From Atomic Habits, a reader might graduate to deeper works on psychology, behavioral economics, or biography. The act itself is the gateway. By clowning Cenat, critics risk reinforcing the very insecurity that keeps young people from picking up a book: the fear of not reading the “right” thing or being judged for their choices.
Ultimately, this episode is less about Kai Cenat’s vocabulary and more about the power of influencer culture when leveraged for positive, foundational habits. His post was a tacit endorsement of lifelong learning. For educators, literacy advocates, and parents, this is an opportunity. Instead of dismissing the moment, we can use it as a conversation starter: “What are you reading?” “How has it affected you?” The path to a more literate society isn’t paved with shame, but with relatable examples.
And if Cenat is looking to build on this momentum, the literary world is rich with next steps. Beyond our own The Root suggestions, he might explore memoirs of resilience like Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, narratives on community and technology like The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher, or even genre fiction that explores complex worlds. The key is continuity—showing that reading isn’t a one-time performance, but a sustainable part of a creative life.
Straight From
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