The person you've described seems like they are choosing a person to become. A person who wishes to become better read and more knowledgeable wants to become a different person than a person who wants to read solely pulp mysteries.
Patrick Collison is widely regarded as a smart, thoughtful, and accomplished, and I don't think it's weird to want to know what he thinks is important to know in the future.
No offence but what does that question even mean. Can't a person wish merely to become better read, more knowledgeable, both stoke and satisfy a lifelong inquisitiveness?