Nice topic
Inziladun.
There is a clear difference between Boromir and Faramir. While I don't know of an instance where it's noted that Faramir is reading a book, it's clearly implied that he is a book reader. Afterall, Denethor calls him the "wizard's pupil."
Quote:
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'So time drew on to the War of the Ring, and the sons of Denethor grew to manhood, Boromir, five years the elder, beloved by his father, was like him in face and pride, but in little else. Rather he was a man after the sort of King Earnur of old, taking no wife and delighting chiefly in arms; fearless and strong, but caring little for lore, save the tales of old battles. Faramir the younger was like him in looks but otherwise in mind. He read the hearts of men as shrewdly as his father, but what he read moved him sooner to pity than to scorn. He was gentle in bearing, and a lover of lore and of music, and therefore by many in those days his courage was judged less than his brother's.'~ Appendix A: Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion ; The Stewards
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The implication here is in Gondor's culture at this time, a lover of lore and music is not as courageous as a warrior/war general like Boromir. In these days of war, a reader of books like Faramir, or Gandalf isn't not as useful as strength of arms. The trouble is, strength of arms could no longer save Gondor from Sauron's destruction...and it was people like Gandalf and the book-nerds like Faramir that Middle-earth needed.
I would also classify Denethor and Saruman as readers. Denethor delved into Gondor's archives to learn about the palantir. Saruman arguably knows more about Ring-lore than anyone else during this period in Middle-earth, save Sauron himself. However their studies and reading lead them down the wrong path. To Denethor and Saruman their studies into the palantir and ring-lore were to master and have power over such objects. Not to try to learn, understand, or respect the power and dangers of these objects they wanted to control.