If there is any profession that is built on the assumption that its practitioners constantly put aside time to stay up to date it is every profession that is even remotly connected to engineering.

Maybe many software devs don't view themselves as engineers, but engineers can be held liable if their work doesn't live up to the current technological standards.

I would say, regardless of what you do, sometimes you have to take some time for introspection, unless you plan to live with the consequences of not doing it. And reading books is part of that.

If your employer is smart they consider that. If you are smart you also consider that.