Should you buy a Kindle for someone who says they hate reading?

In most cases, no — I wouldn’t buy a Kindle for someone who says they hate reading. If they truly dislike reading as an activity, a Kindle usually won’t change that, and it may just end up unused.

The exception is if they don’t hate reading itself — they hate the friction around it. A Kindle can be a good gift if they:

• get tired eyes from bright screens
• want something lighter and easier to hold than a physical book
• would actually use library borrowing or easier book access
• are more open to reading if the setup feels simpler

If their dislike is really about reading text at all, audiobooks are probably the better gift. A tablet can also be better if you want something more flexible.

If you do buy one, it’s smartest when you already know they’re at least mildly curious about reading, or you can exchange it easily if they never use it.