S4 E21 "Testing Testing 1, 2, 3" actually gives a reasonable explanation for why Rainbow Dash didn't enjoy reading until Twilight really pushed him. Rainbow learns the most while flying, and she looks all around to notice everything. That's incompatible with reading books, which you can best do while in bed or on a bus or train, and certainly not while you're looking all around to absorb every detail you see around you.
She's not an egghead, she just has her own way of learning, and it's not book learning.
@b_jonas The problem is that she wasn't supposed to study the book, just "read for fun".
If anything, the episode seems to be a direct reference to people who dismiss some media because "too kid-like / too silly / too nerdy / too for eggheads" and so on
@ShadowWizard btw, have you started keeping an eye on this room too? Falling closer to the event horizon of the pony fan black hole. Once you reach it, you will no longer be able to escape.
@b_jonas as I said one, each one of the mane six carry a "virtue" in her element, but it is also pretty clear that each one carries a "problem" too (or sometime multiple problems)
Many of those problems seems to be typical problems school kids have.
Rainbow Dash has an evident problem with "ego", but unlike most people assume it is evident (especially in older episodes) that her ego isn't a "I am better than you" thing.
The character was obviously bullied back in school. The behavior she developed is a defense mechanism: others say that I am bad so I need to constantly remind me that I am good.
This also explain the extreme "vulnerability" to pride when it comes down to getting praised for something.
She needs the praising because back then she only heard jokes about her (Cif: Rainbow Crash).
@b_jonas in the season 6 flashback that explains the origin of the "Rainbow Crash" nickname, you can clearly see that not only the bullies got away with it... the teacher was laughing too (most damaging thing a teacher can do in such situation imo)
