The internet was supposed to kill off books. But across much of Asia, a booming market tells a different story. The region doesn’t have a special affinity with reading. Demand is being driven by something more practical: a desire to get ahead. It’s also underpinned by rising literacy, an expanding middle class and the wider adoption of English as a second language. Textbooks, exam preparation materials and self-help titles are among the bestsellers. Promoted by social media, and in some cases encouraged by political leaders, books aren’t just a pastime — they’re tools for economic advancement. Other countries struggling with weakening reading levels should take note. In much of Asia,…