What are some possible reasons for people finding it difficult to start learning something new, despite having access to various resources such as online materials and books?

Does anyone ever ask the “students” what they want to learn? How do they get exposed to enough to imagine what might be available.

Do they even suggest books that are interesting?

Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein was more interesting than any of the books that I was assigned in high school.

The Scarlet Letter

The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Catcher in the Rye

Thucydides' Peloponnesian War

You go to school to be indoctrinated to worship European Culture.

Rescue Party by Arthur C Clarke was good but it was a short story and I had already read it.