[Someone]

"could be read?" Of course. whether you would enjoy it is another issue. Compare;

  "Do you think I could take piano lessons if I am not actually interested in playing a piano?"

    "Do you think I could study architecture if I am not actually interested in designing buildings?"

The former is not popular, the latter is, but AFAIK few people study the grunt work of architecture for fun. It all depends on where your interests are. What part of compiler writing intrigues you?

[domgblackwell]

You might study architecture if you want to be able to understand the buildings you see in places you travel to. Just as not everyone who studies the history of art wants to be a painter...